THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I travel the road of nursing, I check the rear-view mirror just to see where the profession of nursing has been, and where it's going. I take a close look at my nursing roots, those who taught, mentored and coached me. This helps me to evaluate whether or not I am on the right path, and to remind me why I chose such a wonderful profession. The science and mystery of the human body, the drama of everyday work, the mobility of the profession and the almost limitless opportunities are quite alluring.
Unfortunately, job dissatisfaction and 'burnout' are among the most important reasons behind the decline in the number of available nurses. In a recent study, more than 40 per cent of hospital nurses reported being dissatisfied with their jobs. The reasons included the following:
* Increase in the number of acutely ill patients.
* High nurse/patient ratio.
* Greater staff turnover.
* General shortage of nurses.
Despite a sense of dedication and love for the profession, if nurses feel a 'disconnect' between their professional ideals and the taxing realities of the work environment, they may experience profound distress. This situation is projected to become worse in the next five to 10 years.
What will we do as a nation to attract and retain our nurses?
I am, etc.,
MARVA LAWSON
BYFIELD
MVByfield@hotmail.com
Montego Bay
