Current Nursing Shortages Could Have Long-Lasting Consequences: Time to Change Our Present Course

Hospitals, nurses, thought leaders, and policymakers must address the potential long-range impacts of negative depictions of nurses and hospitals. We need to regroup and commit to fixing current and long-standing problems together, rethinking and planning for improving patient care in a post-COVID world, and supporting one another to achieve our aspirations for a better future. A Category 5 nursing shortage must be avoided to ensure the health of the nation, stability of healthcare delivery systems, and future growth of the nursing workforce.