Nursing work force in practice and education: What can we learn from the current crisis?

A major factor in the growing crisis in health care is the serious shortage of nurses in practice and education. The current work force shortage is di fferent and more critical than previous cyclical deficits. Because it is pr ojected to be of unprecedented severity and to endure long into the future, it demands significant attention and innovation. Nurses in clinical practi ce and in faculty roles are growing older, and the nursing work force in ge neral is becoming relatively less educated. A strong nursing work force of the future will require new approaches to recruitment, preparation, and ret ention of nurses, interdisciplinary partnerships, and infusion of support f rom a variety of sources.