Shortage of Nurses- A Global Phenomenon

Between a doctor and the patient, it is the nurse who diligently provides the necessary and soothing care to any patient’s recovery on day-to-day basis. No treatment can be successful, without a trained nurse’s care and support. There has been a sudden surge in demand for nurses. The major reasons for this are –

  • Population explosion: With just 8 nurses per 10,000 populations the nurse-to-population ratio is one of the lowest in the world. In India alone, around 2.4 Million nurses are required. Thus larger population seeking medical care needs more number of nurses at every level.

  • Aging population & empty nest: In almost all families migration of younger population seeking better jobs and fortune, has created empty nests (aging parents left alone at home). Elderly population from such empty nests are left alone at home or have begun to move into old age homes, which require trained nurses to provide care and support.
  • Medical tourism: In High Income Group Countries (HIGCs) high treatment costs and long waiting period for treatment, has made it necessary for many patients to seek treatment in India. Medical intervention in India is cheaper compared to other countries. Thus there is rise in medical tourism, wherein people seeking treatment visit India on medical treatment visa and get treated.
  • Global requirement: The ageing nurse population along with the rising patient population equals poor patient care for everyone. Shortage of nurse has been on an eight- to 10-year high since World War II. The need for trained nurses reaching a critical level globally, the governments have added funds and hospitals have upgraded working conditions for them. Health care institutions globally have found India as a new source country for recruiting well-trained and English-speaking nurses.

Some of the best hospitals in India are reportedly experiencing mass resignation and migration of nurses to hospitals abroad. At the same time, Indian hospitals have engaged in “business process outsourcing” (BPO) to take advantage of this phenomenon. They recruit and train Indian nurses and prepare them to take the foreign nurse examinations. Majority of the Indian population live in rural India. This rural population has high incidence of many diseases. With very few nurses opting for rural posting, there is acute shortage of nurses in rural India.

There are various nursing courses available in India – Auxiliary Nurse & Midwife (ANM), Health Visitor (HV) and Health Supervisor (HS), General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM), B. Sc (Nursing-Basic), B. Sc (Nursing-Post Basic), M. Sc (Nursing), M. Phil (Nursing), Ph D, Post Basic Specialty Diploma Courses.

Tips to Help Patients with Alzheimer’s

It is a little known fact that as many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and this number is expected to more than double by 2050. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Today, Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Sometimes called Senile Dementia or simply Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are over age 65, but it can occur in people in their 40s and 50s. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is a fatal disease. The time from the beginning of symptoms until death ranges from 3 to 20 years with the average being 8 years.

Alzheimer’s affects entire families, especially as the disease progresses and affected individuals become more dependent upon their primary caregivers. In treating Alzheimer’s disease, it is common practice to include a professionally trained caregiver that will work with the patient and the family. According to Angela Graczyk, who is a Registered Nurse and Field Trainer with Always Best Care Senior Services, a solid relationship between the family and caregiver of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease is an essential component of providing effective treatment and care. Graczyk also says that a person communicating with an Alzheimer’s patient can find it to be very challenging. She notes, however, that decreased verbal communication does not mean decreased awareness. Most patients are very aware and feel a great deal of distress about their increased loss of ability.

Many homecare providers, like Always Best Care, provide tips to help persons working with an Alzheimer’s patient. Some of which include using memory aids such as labeling objects (i.e. closet, bathroom) and being aware that as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, an individual’s ability to name objects and use words decreases. Other tips include simplifying the environment for Alzheimer’s patients and eliminating distracting noises such as the radio or television, or loud conversation. Families also should be aware that their loved one’s ability to function and cope will steadily decline and may even vary from day to day. Flexibility is crucial. An Alzheimer’s patient may no longer find their favorite food appealing or may insist on wearing the same outfit every day. When this happens, simply change the menu or consider buying a few identical outfits.

There is also no single test to identify Alzheimer’s disease and the causes are not known. Suspected causes, however, include genes and environmental exposure. A complete medical evaluation will provide a correct diagnosis of possible or probable Alzheimer’s 90-percent of the time. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at present, there are FDA-approved drug treatments, designed specifically for memory symptoms occurring in mild to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, groups like the Alzheimer’s Association work for the advancement of research for this deadly disease. The organization also provides and enhances care and support for all affected as well as helps with programs to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

For more information on Alzheimer’s disease, consult your local healthcare provider or visit alz.org.