The Nursing Shortage

The shortage of registered nurses has been predicted and studied for more than a decade, when the health care industry began preparing for the impact of an aging baby-boomer population. There are several factors that have contributed to the shortage of nurses and many steps being taken to correct it.

The nursing shortage is a result of not only the aging workforce, but also a main contributor was the Affordable Care Act in 2010 that brought millions of Americans into the health insurance system, increasing demand for nurses. Another major reason for the shortage is the retirement rate of RNs,  as 55 percent of the current RN workforce are 50 or older, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. More than 1 million RNs will reach retirement age withing the next 10 to 15 years.

The shortage has affected nurses and patients alike, with an increased and heavy workload for nurses and less detailed care for patients. According to a report done by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, inadequate nurse staffing has been a factor in 24 percent of the 1,609 cases involving patient death, injury, or permanent loss of function reported since 1997. For nurses, the shortage has meant increased stress levels, longer hours, and job dissatisfaction. On the other hand, as incentive to persuade young people to join the nursing field, higher salaries are being offered, as well as large sign-on bonuses.

In order to minimize the shortage, many colleges are taking steps to expand their nursing programs and to get students more interested in joining the health care industry. Many students have realized that the shortage means easy post graduate employment, prompting them to join the nursing track. Sixty percent of graduates from Sinclair School of Nursing in Missouri had confirmed jobs even before graduation. One organization, Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow, made up of 40 national nursing and health care organizations are working to address the shortage. The coalition has created a website as well as an advertising campaign and secured media coverage to spread the word about the shortage and to encourage young people to join the field.

The nursing shortage is a long-term problem that requires long-term solutions and mainly the best solution is to get our young people interested in nursing. Campaigns, higher salaries, and an increased awareness of what being a nurse really means are the first steps. 

About the Author: Ed is a guest contributor from CNA Free Training, a free online resource offering impeccable CNA training for nursing jobs.

A Brief History Of Magazines

TIME Magazine; Person of the Year, Greg's Art and My Photo Online (Photo credit: Tony Fischer Photography)

Today's post courtesy of our friends at Modern Litho.

It's easy to take magazines for granted. In this day and age you can get a subscription for next to nothing, newstands are full of all of the recognizable names and any number of niche titles that seem to come and go ad infinitum. The word magazine actually was derived from the Arab world, as the word meant "warehouse", and as a magazine was basically a location for depositing a number of pieces of useful information, it stuck. While that's all well and good, where did the magazine come from, and how did it get to the point where it is today?

Germany
The first published magazine ever was titled  Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen (translation: Edifying Monthly Discussions). Thematically this publication centered on philosophy and was mainly written by one author. Several similar magazines followed shortly, all following similar lines of one main writer and a limited scope of subject matter, typically targeting an intellectual audience.

France
In 1672 the French Publication Le Mercure Galant was the first magazine that followed a more modern format with a large number of contributors and a variety of themes including theater, litereature and politics. This format was a hit and was copied quickly across Europe. The first publication targeting women was launched in London in 1693 and was titled Ladie's Mercury.

Limitations
Early magazines struggled largely due to the inability to produce enough copies. Moreso than singular books, writing, designing, printing and distributing magazines was an ongoing, laborious, and expensive operation. Most early periodicals were limited to 100,000 copies and were largely geographically limited. Another limitation was the quality of the publications themselves. These weren't the glossy, colorful editions we're used to seeing today. As such, advertising wasn't prominent (along with a tax that existed on advertising up to 1853).

Eventually towards the turn of the century, printing technology and the repealed ad tax started the revolution in magazine advertising that made it a leading form of marketing that it has remained for over a hundred years.

For an excellent detailed timeline of magazine history, check out the one put together by magforum.comhttp://www.magforum.com/time.htm.

The Use of Cloud Services

cloud computing (Photo credit: kei51)

When you need reliable telecom services, using a cloud based solution can provide just that. Many options exist for companies that need these telecommunication services, from basic telephone networks, to advanced system installation. A number of service providers can offer all of these for a very low rate relative to the cashflow of most businesses. Most offer advanced customization options as well for those who need a complex system. This can in the long run save time and money for the businesses that use them for any of the infrastructure it supports.

A number of companies have requirements for infrastructure that supports the close networking of everyone involved in the enterprise. This can be achieved with up-links to core technology systems provided by many cloud based companies. Significant cost savings can be gained by working with services entirely based in the cloud. If you have an existing phone network relying on old technology, you can update it now and receive serious benefits in efficiency and costs. Knowing the right time to upgrade is the key to staying on top of your business.

The network comprising cloud based solutions generally provides a number of options for business owners, from basic cabling of their existing phone systems, to integrated technology based networks that allow the employees in your company to communicate far more effectively. The interface provided with these systems often rival that of many enterprise based in-house versions. Valuable and cost efficient network systems can be directly integrated into most existing locations to provide the needed technology that allows interactive systems to be created.

If you have a dynamic and fluid workflow, these telecom systems can give your company a noticeable increase in overall productivity. Money can be saved by having the right components installed and the long term maintenance costs for these solutions is negligible. You should work with your network service provider to determine a private cloud services plan that is right for you, so your company and the people who work there obtain the benefits this kind of update can provide. Doing this now, and taking the steps toward an increased workflow for your business can end up making a serious difference in your bottom line.