A significant issue in the field of nursing policy is the lack of funding for nursing education which results in a disjunction between the supply and demand for nurses; a close look at the media over the past five years shows that this policy issue, far from being addressed, has remained both serious and ongoing. With funding from state and other government sources linked closely to the economy, policy decisions to cut or limit funding for nursing programs have knock-on effects throughout American society.
A review of three articles from 2011 to 2016 provides stories exploring this key policy issue in healthcare. It is interesting to note that, despite the differences when they were published and the demographics of these media publications’ audiences, they share a remarkably similar perspective: all three articles are in agreement that the nursing shortage was a significant issue, likely to have major negative implications for society, and worthy of being addressed urgently. There are, however, minor differences in the approach of these three articles. Grant and Robbins (2016; 2015), for example, focus more on the impact of shortages on nurses and patients, using real-life stories and accounts to help readers relate to the issues at hand. Courchane (2011), in contrast, focuses more on the underlying legislative causes of the shortage, indicating a clear policy path to solving or at least mitigating the issue.
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One clear underlying assumption which is apparent in all three articles is the idea that demand will inevitably increase in coming years. For example, Courchane in 2011 wrote about “soaring demand and chronic shortfalls in years to come” (2011, n.p.), while in 2016 Grant echoed this view, writing that “this shortage is on the cusp of becoming a crisis” (2016, n.p.). This assumption is reasonable, as all three articles cite common grounds such as aging populations (of both patients and nurses), likely to cause the demand of nursing services in the future to outstrip the supply. However, this assumption might be challenged by numerous other factors: it is possible, for example, that the demands of an aging population might be in part mitigated by rapid improvements in healthcare technologies (such as telenursing), and by improvements in treatments and preventative care. By failing to address the problems with these underlying assumptions, all three articles simplify this complex policy issue, suggesting that solutions are simpler and more straightforward than really is the case.
What is equally apparent in these three media sources is that the depth of discussion is superficial at best; although all three articles rely on statements and statistics from respected sources and experts in both nursing and economics, the discussion does not move beyond a basic exploration of the causes and effects of funding cuts and nursing shortages. Intended for a general public audience, these articles were mainly informative in nature. While this is an issue in terms of the scholarly value of these articles, it is also a necessary result of their purpose: the articles seek to raise public awareness about the serious nature of nursing shortages and the fact that solutions lie in legislative and policy decisions. By oversimplifying a complex issue, the articles are able to make this issue accessible to the general public, thereby influencing them to support policy decisions which might help alleviate the problem.
What these articles did make clear were the causal links existing between high-level policies regarding funding and the low-level impacts on day-to-day healthcare delivery. By providing clear information about the driving forces behind policy which has resulted in shortages in educational programs, the article clarified the connections between wider economic issues and healthcare specific issues. What is made abundantly obvious is that the shortage in nurses is not merely a matter for health care policy-makers, but one which will affect many different areas of policy-making, government, and society.
That greater attention should be paid to the wider implications and impacts of healthcare policy decisions is apparent when examining these three chronological articles on the issue of nursing shortages. Healthcare is not only important to the individuals who use it and rely on it; it is also a vital ingredient for the support of a prosperous and successful society and nation. Without a thriving healthcare system, elements of society as wide-ranging as the economy, social demographics, and international image will be affected negatively. Policy decisions which harm healthcare – such as the decision to cut funding to nursing programs – can have far-reaching and long-lasting affects at all levels of society.
It is because the successful delivery of a healthcare program is so fundamental to American society that nursing shortages are such a serious problem, and that is why this is an important policy issue. By raising public awareness of the causes underlying nursing shortages, and the policies needed to address this issue, these articles seek to indirectly influence policy decisions, increasing public pressure on legislators to make choices about healthcare which are not only economic, but also socially responsible. By making an issue a “hot topic” in the media, it is possible to spur legislators and policy-makers to change their approach or consider alternatives in the search for a solution to issues such as these. In terms of media coverage of healthcare policy issues, therefore, this type of article fulfils a valuable function, raising public awareness and indicating a way forward for legislators in terms of finding solutions.
- Courchane, C. (2011, June 6). With nurse shortage looming, America needs shot in the arm. The Washington Times. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtontimes.com
- Grant, R. (2016, February 3). The U.S. is running out of nurses. The Atlantic. Retrieved from: http://www.theatlantic.com
- Robbins, A. (2015, May 28). We need more nurses. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com
