Nursing Shortage in 2024: Opportunities for International Nurses

(Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes)

Everybody broadly regarded nursing as a noble profession, yet it has grappled with significant challenges. These include high turnover rates, nursing home staff shortages, and difficulties in retaining and recruiting nurses, all exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has intensified nurse burnout, increased workloads, and created shortages of skilled nurses across many healthcare sectors. 

This article explores the persistent nursing crisis of global understaffing, shortages, and the mass exodus in 2024. Read on to review the current challenges faced by the nursing industry worldwide.

Nursing Home Staff Shortages and Regulations in the US

On April 22, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a mandate to improve staffing to address nursing home staff shortages. The federal government plans to establish minimum nursing home staffing requirements, slated for enforcement within the next three to four years. The initiative aims to enhance care quality for elderly residents while emphasizing the need for sufficient coverage of registered nurses and certified nursing assistants. These regulations are expected to substantially impact the nursing home industry, addressing long-standing challenges of staffing shortages.

US Congress’ Stance on Nursing Home Staff Shortages

The Biden administration initially expressed its plans to set the nursing staff levels more efficiently. Under this mandate, a minimum number of registered nurses must be available around the clock in government-funded facilities. Each nursing home accommodates an average of 100 seniors, requiring 2 RNs daily and a minimum of 10 to 11 nursing aides. 

According to 2020 National Center for Health Statistics data, the country has 15,300 nursing home facilities. Out of these nursing home facilities, 29.7% of which are government funded. Thus, this implies that approximately ~9,100 registered nurses are needed solely to address government-funded nursing home staff shortages.

Factors That Can Help Nursing Home Staff Shortages

Before implementing the new staffing requirements, the United States expects to encounter difficulties recruiting and retaining a sufficiently skilled workforce. The projected nursing shortage in 2024 also hinders recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce. There are many strategies to address nursing home staffing shortages. Here are some factors that can help improve nursing home staffing:

• Improved Compensation and Benefits

One of the primary reasons nurses often leave the nursing home industry is the comparatively lower pay. This contrasts with other healthcare settings, which offer more comprehensive benefits. Hence, offering competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and better working conditions can help nursing homes attract and retain more qualified nurses and nursing assistants.

• Increased Investment in Training and Career Development

Providing nurses with continuous training, career growth, and professional development can enhance morale and encourage retention in the nursing home sector.

• Improved Workplace Culture and Support for Nurses

Fostering a positive work environment that values and supports nurses is crucial. Moreover, various measures to address burnout and promote work-life balance significantly improve staff retention in nursing homes.

Implementing these strategies will be crucial for nursing homes to meet the new federal staffing requirements. This will ensure high-quality, compassionate care for their elderly residents. Furthermore, the new staffing regulations for nursing homes present challenges and opportunities to enhance and promote quality care for older people.

Nursing Shortage 2024 in Ontario, Canada

The nursing shortage in Ontario, Canada, has also been a pressing issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the Ontario government has addressed the nursing shortage in 2024. These include increasing funding for nursing education programs and implementing initiatives to attract and retain nurses in the province. 

According to data from The Canadian Press, Ontario will need more than 33,000 additional nurses by 2032 to compensate for the country’s nursing shortage. In addition, the nursing shortage in Ontario is a complex issue requiring a multifaceted approach.

Factors Contributing to the Nursing Shortage 2024

For Ontario to address its nursing shortage, it must first address the following factors. Here are some of the factors affecting the nursing shortage not only in Ontario but the whole country as well:

• Aging Workforce

From 2008 to 2022, the average age of registered nurses in Canada was 43.3. Addressing the aging nursing workforce and promoting nursing as a career in the country are critical government tasks. Moreover, ensuring a younger workforce is essential to sustain the longevity of Canada’s nursing sector.

• High Rate of Burnout and Job Dissatisfaction

Nurses frequently encounter demanding workloads, especially during shifts lasting 8-12 hours. Although this is common in nursing, addressing these challenges is essential to support nurses in achieving a healthy work-life balance. In addition, the consistent heavy workload coupled with inadequate rest significantly increases the risk of burnout among nurses.

• Challenges in Recruitment and Retaining Nurses

Although the number of nurses applying in Canada increases yearly, it must catch up with the growing demand for healthcare services. Thus, the government needs a more comprehensive action plan to streamline the application process for international nurses.

Significant obstacles remain in recruiting and retaining nurses. The nursing profession continues to face issues such as inadequate compensation, lack of professional development support, and concerns about work-life balance.

Initiatives to Promote Nursing Careers and Retain Nurses

The Canadian government has acknowledged the urgent need to address the nursing shortage in 2024 and has taken steps to improve the situation. These steps include increasing funding for nursing education programs and implementing initiatives to attract and retain nurses in the province.

Here are some of the key initiatives the Ontario government has implemented to address the nursing shortage:

• More Support for Internationally Educated Nurses

One key initiative to promote nursing careers and retain nurses in Ontario is the integration of internationally educated nurses. The Canadian government has acknowledged the need to streamline the application process for international nurses to address the nursing shortage effectively.

• Create a Policy for Minimum Nurse-To-Patient Ratio

British Columbia is the first province to implement a policy that requires a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio in care facilities. This has helped improve working conditions and retention of nursing staff. Also, British Columbia has already removed initial application and assessment fees for internationally educated nurses.  

•Comprehensive Tax Cuts for Healthcare Workers

The Canadian government has taken further steps to address the nursing shortage. Comprehensive tax cuts for healthcare workers, including nurses, can help improve retention and recruitment in the nursing profession. Moreover, they improve compensation and boost retention efforts.

UK’s Nursing Shortage 2024: Mass Nurse Exodus

The United Kingdom also grapples with a severe nursing shortage in 2024 and a possible nursing exodus. According to recent statistics released by National Health Services (NHS), the country has a vacancy of 31,294 healthcare workers. This includes nurses, midwives, and health visitors.

Reasons for the mass exodus of nurses from the UK

A combination of factors has driven the mass exodus of nurses from the UK. These include the following:

• Burnout

There has been a significant increase in burnout among NHS adult nurses, leading to adverse effects on their mental health. Moreover, recent findings suggest that nurses’ leading cause of burnout in the UK is their heavy workload.

• Low Pay

Nurses in the UK have reported feeling undervalued and underpaid, with salaries failing to keep pace with the rising cost of living. This has led to high turnover rates in UK healthcare as they seek better opportunities elsewhere. In addition, the number of nurses leaving the UK healthcare workforce has skyrocketed in recent years. 

Newly registered UK nurses earn approximately $36,662(~£28,407) annually, compared to their US counterparts who earn $57,000. This UK figure corresponds to the Band 5 pay scale, which applies to new staff nurses with less than one year of experience.

• Poor Working Conditions

Due to the significant shortage of nurses in the UK, healthcare professionals actively engaged in nursing roles face increased responsibilities. As a result, nurses must compensate for the lack of manpower.

This situation underscores the critical need for more nursing staff. Moreover, it also highlights the challenges and pressures experienced by those currently in the profession.

Efforts to Combat Nursing Shortage 2024 in the UK

The UK government has responded to the nursing exodus by implementing various measures. These include enhancing compensation packages, improving working conditions, and providing robust support systems for healthcare professionals. Furthermore, this aims to retain and attract talent amidst global healthcare sector challenges.

The International Nursing Community Needs You

With the nursing shortages in 2024, there’s a high demand for skilled and caring professionals to take action. If you’re considering working abroad, IPASS Processing can help. Here are the services IPASS Processing offers to nurses looking to work overseas:

• NCLEX USA, Canada, and Australia

IPASS Processing can help process your application to take the NCLEX Exam in the USA, Canada, and Australia. This will enable you to work as a nurse in these countries and help address their nursing shortages.

• Next Generation NCLEX Review and Mentoring

Preparing for the NCLEX test can be challenging, but don’t worry. IPASS Processing offers a comprehensive Next Generation NCLEX Online Review and Mentoring Academy. Moreover, the IPASS NCLEX Online Review has a proven track record that has helped thousands of nurses achieve their international healthcare licensing. In 2023 alone, IPASS helped 1278 nurses pass the Next Generation NCLEX.

• UK-NMC

Despite the challenges it faces, the United Kingdom remains a top destination for nurses. This is due to its rich history, diverse culture, and opportunities within its renowned healthcare system. This makes it an ideal country to gain experience and start an international healthcare career. Hence, IPASS offers assistance in processing credentials and applications with the UK-NMC.

The global nursing shortage in 2024 presents unique opportunities for nurses seeking international careers. IPASS Processing supports your journey, offering comprehensive services from NCLEX preparation to credential processing for various countries. With IPASS’s proven track record and expertise, you can confidently take the next step in your nursing career. IPASS processing is here to help you make a meaningful impact on global healthcare as an internationally licensed nurse.

The Takeaway

The global nursing shortage in 2024 is a critical issue affecting healthcare systems worldwide. Countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are all grappling with challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified nursing staff. An aging workforce, burnout, poor working conditions, and inadequate compensation have exacerbated this shortage.

Addressing the nursing shortage will require sustained effort from governments, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions. It will involve recruiting new nurses and creating supportive environments that encourage experienced nurses to remain in the profession. As healthcare needs continue to grow globally, solving this shortage will be crucial to ensuring quality care for populations worldwide.