Research also suggested that nurses’ workloads and unprecedented levels of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic played key roles in accelerating these workforce trends and threatening the future of the U.S. nursing workforce, particularly for younger, less experienced RNs. Further, high levels of turnover were seen with the potential for even further declines in a post-pandemic nursing workplace as disruptions in prelicensure nursing programs have also raised concerns about the supply and clinical preparedness of new nurse graduates. Early career data for new entrants into the profession suggest decreased practice and assessment proficiency. Coupled with large declines among nursing support staff, NCSBN calls for significant action to foster a more resilient and safe U.S. nursing workforce moving forward. “The data is clear: the future of nursing and of the U.S. health care ecosystem is at an urgent crossroads,” said Maryann Alexander, PhD, RN, FAAN, NCSBN Chief Officer of Nursing Reg- ulation. “The pandemic has stressed nurses to leave the workforce and has expedited an intent to leave in the near future, which will become a greater crisis and threaten patient populations if solutions are not enacted immediately. There is an urgent opportunity today for health care systems, policymakers, regulators and academic leaders to coalesce and enact solutions that will spur positive systemic evolution to address these challenges and maximize patient protection in care into the future.” The research findings and proposed solutions were presented in a panel discussion today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Panelists included: • Antonia Villarruel, Dean of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania • Gay Landstrom, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Trinity Health System • Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. Representative of Delaware • Robyn Begley, CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and CNO/Sr. VP for the American Hospital Association • Rayna M. Letourneau, Board of Directors, National Forum for State Workforce Centers A recording of the panel discussion is available on ncsbn.org. (https://www.ncsbn.org/video/ nursing-at-the-crossroads) To request interviews with NCSBN or view the entire research, please contact Email Linkncsbn@reputationpartners.com or visit ncsbn.org. Research Methodology: The study examines a subset of the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study for analysis. Re- ported trends represent population-based estimates. There were 29,472 registered nurses (in- cluding advanced registered nurses [APRN]) and 24,061 licensed practical nurses/vocational nurses across 45 states included. 6
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