I was thinking again today about the nurse to patient ratios the California government is bringing in. They are at 6 now (other States have followed suit; not sure which state started this) and were hoping to move to 5:1 this month. That has apparently been put on hold, and nurses are angry. I understand the desire to have limited patient numbers. Lord knows med/surg patient care is heavier today then when I first started nursing. My question is, aside from turning away patients how are people that need hospitalization going to be cared for? There is a shortage of nurses world wide, so what do governments, and nurses, expect to happen? People will not stop getting sick. We are living longer yes, but with more and prolonged illness.
The USA, and probably Canada, has waiting lists at nursing schools. The shortage of qualified instructors seems to be a big problem. Perhaps the real problem, schools and governments want Masters prepared (and up) instructors. Sorry, but there are just not enough to go around. So are we unnecessarily causing a shortage of professionals. There are some wonderfully talented and seasoned nurses out there, with only a Diploma or BN degree, who would make wonderful teachers.
I have a strong distaste for those who see more value in a piece of paper than the person standing before them. Experience counts for not? Sometimes (I have seen) all you get is the paper...useless.
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