As you learned from your reading in Chapter 12, growth is projected in healthcare occupation employment during the 2012-2022 time period. Table 12-2 on page 291 provides indicators for this growing trend for certain occupations. It directly indicates that the number of registered nurses needed in the healthcare industry will grow by 15% during this period. However, nationwide there is a current nursing shortage and North Carolina is not immune to this shortage. It is projected that by 2025 the state will have the second-largest shortage of nurses in the nation. Couple this already-known and growing shortage with the lasting impact of COVID on the profession and the outlook is bleak at best. As a result of this shortage, healthcare organizations are offering competitive monetary incentives to bring nurses on board. In addition to competitive salaries, some are offering sign-on bonuses, loan forgiveness options, and relocation packages.

Several factors contribute to the nursing shortage and below you will find three web links that provide more data on the shortage from both a national and state perspective. Please take the time to review these links in detail to familiarize yourself with the current trends. You are encouraged to dig further as well. There is a lot of information and data that is easily accessible related to this topic.

As a future healthcare manager, the need for nurses coupled with the shortage of supply could present staffing issues for your practice/hospital. Given what you have learned from the chapter, hiring is very important, but retention maybe even more important, especially in a time of shortage. Develop responses to the following questions.

1. In addition to compensation, what methods would you utilize to encourage and promote retention of your current nursing staff?

-You must include at least two different methods and explain why each one would promote the retention of current nurses on your staff.

-You must use a minimum of three sentences to detail each method and explanation, but I encourage more.

2. How important is organizational culture to the retention of staff? As a future manager, how would you foster a positive organizational culture to promote retention?