2022 Nursing Shortage: ShiftMed Survey Shows Nurses Aren’t Okay

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world got a hard look at the nursing profession. Everyone hailed nurses as heroes (which they always have been), watching them battle mental and physical exhaustion and burnout on the frontlines of care. It was apparent nurses weren't okay. Today, they still aren't okay—and our 2022 State of Nursing Survey results reflect that. But, as you'll see, there are specific incentives that would make them feel differently.

About the ShiftMed Survey

With over 100,000 healthcare professionals in our network, ShiftMed understands the importance of knowing what nurses want and sends out an annual survey to get an accurate pulse of the profession.

"We take great pride in listening to our healthcare professionals and exploring what matters most to them and how we can keep them on the frontlines of care," said Todd Walrath, CEO of ShiftMed.

For 2022, we again partnered with Wakefield Research to conduct our online survey. Between August 4 and August 15, we received survey responses from 500 nurses across the country, comprising 400 registered nurses, 50 licensed practical nurses, and 50 certified nursing assistants.

We asked these nurses 10 questions that centered around top-of-mind concerns. And in return, we received some alarming but not shocking responses.

For the most part, the ongoing nursing shortage is pushing nurses to the brink, with 65% of our survey respondents saying they're likely to leave the profession within the next two years. In our 2021 survey, 49% of our respondents reported the same intentions. Given the substantial percentage increase from one year to the next makes it clear something has to change.

Nursing Shortage Impact on Nurses

For our first question, we asked, "What are your top concerns working in the profession right now?" Of the 500 respondents, 64% cited staffing shortages. We followed up with, "How, if at all, has the nursing shortage negatively impacted you?" Here's what the nurses had to say:

• 54% work more hours or longer shifts

• 43% have a larger patient load than what is feasible for their position

• 40% feel their mental health has suffered

• 28% had time-off requests denied

What Do Nurses Want?

The nurses who are likely to leave the profession within the next two years said they might reconsider under the right circumstances. Here's what they want:

• 93% want control over their schedules

• 61% want higher pay

• 41% want more paid time off

• 1 in 4 want to choose their shifts

How ShiftMed Supports Nurses

We give credentialed RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, the power to choose when, where, and how often they work. In other words, ShiftMed nurses have control over their work schedules. Our #1 nursing jobs app gives them easy, direct access to thousands of open shifts in their communities. Furthermore, our nurses get to:

• Maintain a work schedule that meets your personal and professional needs.

• Work per diem at any time of the day or night—weekends and holidays are optional.

• Choose to work 8 hours one week and 40 the next—no shift minimums.

• Claim Guaranteed Shifts® to get paid for the entire shift if a facility cancels.

• Access our free Next Day Pay® service to get paid the next business day.

• Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, holiday rates, and promotional perks.

Want to work for ShiftMed? Download our nursing jobs app today!

Nursing Shortage Impact on Healthcare Industry

With many nurses on the brink of leaving the profession, the healthcare industry faces serious labor issues that will negatively impact the level of care people receive in this country. In fact, our survey revealed that 49% of nurse respondents are already concerned their patients aren't getting the care they need.

We asked nurses, "How would you describe the current staffing shortage at the hospital or healthcare facility where you're employed?" Of the 500 respondents, 52% said the staffing shortage at their place of employment was "considerate" or "severe."

It also doesn't help that nurses are becoming less likely to recommend the profession to friends and family, with 36% of our survey respondents saying they would not recommend it. Something else to think about is that as more nurses retire or leave the profession, there's not a significant pipeline of nurses ready to replace them. It's tough to get into nursing school these days because most higher learning institutions don't have the capacity to accept the majority of individuals who apply.

How ShiftMed Solves Nurse Staffing Challenges

We give healthcare providers, from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities to rehabilitation centers, direct access to local, pre-vetted RNs, LPNs, and CNAs.

By leveraging our diverse nurse network, we help facilities trim their labor costs and establish balanced, flexible workforce models. In fact, we have the largest, fastest-growing network of credentialed healthcare professionals ready to work on a per diem, short-term, long-term, or permanent basis.

Our healthcare facility partners benefit by:

• Maintaining optimal staffing levels and consistent quality care coverage.

• Streamlining and automating healthcare staffing and scheduling efforts.

• Preventing staff burnout and reducing employee overtime.

• Removing financial and liability risks with our W-2 nurses.

• Using predictive analytics to reach HPPD goals.

• Saving on recruiting and onboarding costs.

See how ShiftMed can solve your nurse staffing challenges while reducing your labor costs. Book a demo today!