‘The movement of nurses away from hospital employment may be the most damaging health care workplace impact of the pandemic,’ a 2023 report states.
A 40-year record high of 100,000 nurses left their jobs in 2021, according to a study published in Health Affairs Forefront in April 2022.
The study noted that the exiting nurses were primarily younger, rather than the expected age group of above 50.
“A sustained reduction in the number of younger age [nurses] would raise ominous implications for the future workforce,” the study stated.
A report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing published in October 2022 blames the losses on general trends such as retirement, a lack of education and training for replacements, and the rapid growth of an aging population that requires health care services.
Several nurses who spoke to The Epoch Times largely blame the exodus on the corporatization of health care and the vaccine mandates imposed on nurses.
The nursing shortage had long been a problem before COVID-19. When hospitals began operating like corporations instead of as a refuge for the sick, nurses became disillusioned with the occupation, nurse Irene Ricks told The Epoch Times.
Then, came the pandemic and, with it, a slew of new requirements.
“Not only were nurses having to take on a huge load of patients, but they were also being told to do things that they didn’t feel right about,” Ms. Ricks said.
“Then, they were being told they had to be vaccinated or they would lose their job.”
The vaccine mandate “was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Ms. Ricks said.
“It made nurses quit or retire in droves.”
A 2023 report by AMN Healthcare, which is the result of a January survey of 18,000 registered nurses nationwide, found that 30 percent of nurses said they’re likely to leave their careers because of the pandemic, up 7 percentage points from 2021.
“The movement of nurses away from hospital employment may be the most damaging health care workplace impact of the pandemic,” the report states.
A full 94 percent of respondents said there’s a “severe or moderate shortage of nurses” in their area.
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