Workplace Challenges Facing the Nursing Profession

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the U.S. health care industry has struggled as a result of rising costs, declining government spending, changing demographics, growing personnel shortages, and accelerating scientific and technological advances. These issues have resulted in significant changes in the structure, organization, financing, and delivery of health care. As registered nurses (RNs) constitute the single largest occupational group in the health care industry, they have been particularly affected by the changing nature of U.S. health care. The impact has not been positive.