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Global nurse shortages-the facts, the impact and action for change.

Drennan, VM; Ross, F (2019) Global nurse shortages-the facts, the impact and action for change. Br Med Bull, 130 (1). pp. 25-37. ISSN 1471-8391 https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz014
SGUL Authors: Drennan, Vari MacDougal

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Nurses comprise half the global health workforce. A nine million shortage estimated in 2014 is predicted to decrease by two million by 2030 but disproportionality effect regions such as Africa. This scoping review investigated: what is known about current nurse workforces and shortages and what can be done to forestall such shortages? SOURCES OF DATA: Published documents from international organisations with remits for nursing workforces, published reviews with forward citation and key author searches. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Addressing nurse shortages requires a data informed, country specific model of the routes of supply and demand. It requires evidence informed policy and resource allocation at national, subnational and organisation levels. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The definition in law, type of education, levels and scope of practice of nurses varies between countries raising questions of factors and evidence underpinning such variation. Most policy solutions proposed by international bodies draws on data and research about the medical workforce and applies that to nurses, despite the different demographic profile, the work, the career options, the remuneration and the status. GROWING POINTS: Demand for nurses is increasing in all countries. Better workforce planning in nursing is crucial to reduce health inequalities and ensure sustainable health systems. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Research is needed on: the nursing workforce in low income countries and in rural and remote areas; on the impact of scope of practice and task-shifting changes; on the impact over time of implementing system wide policies as well as raising the profile of nursing.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in British Medical Bulletin following peer review. The version of record Vari M Drennan, Fiona Ross, Global nurse shortages—the facts, the impact and action for change, British Medical Bulletin, Volume 130, Issue 1, June 2019, Pages 25–37 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz014
Keywords: evidence gap, labour market supply and demand, nursing, scoping review, shortages, workforce, evidence gap, labour market supply and demand, nursing, scoping review, shortages, workforce, 11 Medical And Health Sciences, General & Internal Medicine
Journal or Publication Title: Br Med Bull
ISSN: 1471-8391
Language: eng
Dates:
DateEvent
June 2019Published
13 May 2019Published Online
2 April 2019Accepted
Publisher License: Publisher's own licence
PubMed ID: 31086957
Go to PubMed abstract
URI: http://sgultest.da.ulcc.ac.uk/id/eprint/110924
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz014

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