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Shortage Of Nurses In Australia

IMPLICATIONS OF THE GLOBAL NURSING SHORTAGE AND ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO OVERCOME THE ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA

INTRODUCTION

Nurses form an integral part of the health work force of a nation. They are responsible in maintaining the health standards and the quality of health of the most valuable asset of the country, human resource. Hence, the shortage of nurses has posed serious threats to nations all over the world, especially the developed ones like Australia, USA, Canada etc. Addressing this problem and attaining self-sufficiency should form a priority in the Government’s agenda of each country. We list down the implications of these shortages and a number of potential solutions to combat this problem.

NURSING SHORTAGE ISSUES AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

This paper examines the dynamics and policy context of the active overseas recruitment of nurses in Australia, particularly from the U.K, Phillippines, Spain and Germany. In Australia, as in most developed countries, there is an acute shortage of registered nurses. This paper presents an overview of the complex interlinking set of factors which are the causes and consequences of nursing shortages and also alternatives and solutions to the problem.

Even though the shortage of nurses cannot be clearly defined, the demand and supply imbalance for the nurse workforce is clearly evident in many countries. There has been an increasing demand for nurses all around the world, but the supply is constantly failing to keep pace with the increasing demand. This problem of shortage of nurses is a serious health system problem which undermines the health system effectiveness and requires potential health system solutions.

This shortage has resulted into an emerging trend for the inflow of nurses into the developed countries from the developing and third world countries. The developed countries like Australia, USA, and Canada have resorted to the active recruitment of international nurses to combat these...