The Collective Intellect of Nurses: Three Approaches to the Cyclic Shortage Conundrum

Abstract Nursing is once again in the midst of one of its cyclic shortages, with forecasts of an even more intense shortage developing by 2010. At the American Nurses Association Convention in June, I represented NLN in a panel discussion on how national nursing organizations perceive this national issue and how they plan to help resolve it. For purposes of the presentation, I identified three primary ways for NLN to contribute to both short-term and long-term solutions to the nursing shortage problem: Maintaining a comprehensive database regarding the new supply of nurses. Contributing to the substantive work of preparation of practitioners for an ever-changing health care environment. Providing faculty development activities to assist in enhancing the applicant pool to schools of nursing.