– Nursing Shortage Blog Series Helps Nurses Understand the Important Role that Education and Experience Play –

AURORA, Colo. – January 21, 2016 – American Sentinel University launched a new a four-part blog series: ‘The Nursing Shortage’, available at http://www.americansentinel.edu/blog/2016/01/12/the-nursing-shortage-where-are-we-now/ as part of the university’s ‘The Sentinel Watch’ healthcare blog examining the various aspects of the nursing shortage.

The blog series discusses the question, “Is healthcare facing a serious deficit of RNs with advanced education? If yes, what are the key factors contributing to the shortage and what should be done to best address the issue.”

“Education has always been the cornerstone to career advancement in nursing,” says Judy Burckhardt, Ph.D., MAEd, MSN, RN, Dean and Professor, Nursing and Healthcare Programs at American Sentinel University. “In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, there will always be a market for experienced and well-educated nurses.”

Dr. Burckhardt believes that because industry forecasts influence health policy decisions, and nurses’ career choices, it’s important for nurses to understand the forces at play in today’s healthcare job market.

‘The Nursing Shortage’ blog series will run through Feb. 2, 2016, and covers these important topics of interest for nurses:

-Where We Are Now: the current state of the nursing shortage and trends that will affect the coming years

-Experience Matters: how to get a job without experience

-Expanding the Education Pipeline: the role of education in meeting the demand for qualified nurses

-Factors-Affecting Supply & Demand: the role of each factor that impacts the demand for nurses in the workforce

“The increased emphasis on specialization may contribute to specific types of shortages in nursing,” says Dr. Burckhardt. “For instance, trends stemming from the Affordable Care Act have created an increased demand for nurses with specialized skills in case management, informatics, nursing education, leadership, and infection prevention.”

As employers seek to fill these specialized roles, they will offer appealing salaries and benefits to nurses with these skills sets, education, and experience. This may move seasoned nurses away from the bedside into these emerging roles, thus creating shortages in personnel who provide direct patient care.

To learn more about the nursing shortage and understand the forces at play in today’s labor market,visit ‘The Nursing Shortage’ blog series on American Sentinel University’s ‘The Sentinel Watch’ healthcare blog.

Learn more about American Sentinel University’s accredited online Nursing programs (RN to BSN, MSN, or DNP) at http://www.americansentinel.edu/nursing or call 866.922.5690.

About American Sentinel UniversityAmerican Sentinel University delivers accredited online degree programs in nursing (BSN, MSN, and DNP) and healthcare management (MBA Healthcare, M.S. Information Systems Management, and M.S. Business Intelligence and Analytics). Its affordable, flexible bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), of One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036. The DNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) of 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Ga., 30326. The University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, DEAC, 1101 17th Street NW, Suite 808, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 234-5100, www.deac.org

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