RACE, GENDER, AGE AND THE US NURSING SHORTAGE

Abstract

This thesis explores the demographic make up of nurses who have considered leaving the profession, those who have left, and the reasons cited for leaving. Data from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses and the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals were used to examine the demographic characteristics of two nurse populations, explore demographic differences in the reasons nurses leave, and the degree of nurse job dissatisfaction. It was found that nurses who have considered leaving or have left the field have similar demographic characteristics as those currently in the field. It was also found that differences in the reasons cited for leaving exist by age and by the presence of children in the home among nurses who are no longer in nursing, but not among nurses who have considered leaving. Nurse job dissatisfaction was also determined to decrease with age. This research underscores the importance of developing multi-pronged and multi-level remedies to combat the consequences of the nursing shortage.