COVID Disrupts Nursing Pipeline With Graduation, Education Delays

The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed nursing graduations and impacted clinical training due to hospital restrictions. Ethical concerns arise over student safety with low PPE supplies. Some schools use virtual simulations to ensure timely graduations, though not all students are comfortable with this. The pandemic has increased the demand for nurses, but the supply is not keeping up. Factors like an aging population, high turnover rates, and a lack of nursing educators contribute to predicted nursing shortages by 2025. The shortage could lead to lower nurse-to-patient ratios, affecting care quality and causing burnout.

What factors have contributed to the delay in nursing graduations?

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted clinical placements for nursing students?

What ethical concerns are raised regarding nursing students' clinical placements during the pandemic?

What are some of the predicted outcomes for nursing shortages by 2025?

What challenges do nursing educators face in continuing to teach during the pandemic?