Distressed But Not Deterred: Nurses Reveal Solutions to the Nursing Shortage in the Aftermath of a Pandemic

Results from National Impact Assessment (NIA) surveys conducted by the American Nurses Association during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a nursing profession in distress. National nurse respondents from all employment settings reported stress, with bullying and violence at work, most commonly caused by patients and families. Greater than 50% of national respondents were considering or planning to leave their nursing position within the next six months. These alarming findings prompted leaders of one of the ANA’s midwestern affiliates in Kentucky to launch a state-wide survey that explored perceptions of nurses living or working in the state (n = 850) regarding possible contributors to the nursing shortage, and supportive actions to alleviate them at the time of a significant nursing shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collected by KNA researchers were also compared against the NIA database to determine if differences existed between Kentucky’s state-specific data and national trends. While some of the highest rated contributors to the nursing shortage concerned insufficient staffing and pay, most of the top-rated concerns expressed by KY nurses related to lack of support for nurses and lack of voice to influence their profession. However, most KY nurses also expressed commitment to their occupation along with a desire to assume the role of leaders who can directly influence their own workplace transformation. This study adds to the national literature by outlining perceived contributors to the nursing shortage and providing recommendations directly from nurses regarding measures to effectively recruit and retain the most vital members of healthcare’s largest profession in the aftermath of a pandemic.