Nursing Numbers Increase But Profession Under Pressure, Australia

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 16 Oct 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The number of nurses employed in health increased by 11% between 2003 and 2007 but, unlike their medical counterparts, nurses are working longer hours, and the ageing of the workforce poses challenges for Australia's healthcare system the ANF said today.

Responding to the release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Nursing and Midwifery labour force 2007 report, ANF Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said a 7.6% increase in nursing supply was welcome but more incentives were needed to recruit and retain nurses.

"We are pleased with the overall increase in the supply of nurses and midwives but the report highlights that 42,503 or 13.9% of registered and enrolled nurses are not looking for work in nursing and already employed elsewhere," Ms Kearney said.

While the federal government has taken steps to encourage nurses back into the workforce more needs to be done to retain and attract nurses, particularly in aged care.

"A great way to encourage nurses and midwives who have left the profession back would be to address issues like wage parity in the aged care sector and improve the working conditions in all areas of the profession, including incentives to improve clinical career pathways."

Ms Kearney said this could be achieved by practical measures such as legislation now before the Senate to give nurse practitioners and eligible midwives access to the MBS and PBS.

The report also noted an increase in nurses' working hours from 32.5 hours in 2003 to 33.3 hours in 2007. "We would like to see this trend change because any increase in working hours results in more pressure for our nurses on the ground."

The nursing workforce continued to age with the proportion of nurses aged 50 years and over increasing from 28% in 2003 to 33% in 2007. "The ageing workforce continues to present challenges to our health care system. Nurses provide the bulk of health care services in Australia. With 40% of the nursing workforce due to retire in the next decade, we need to boost nursing and midwifery undergraduate places and make the profession more attractive," Ms Kearney said.

Source
Australian Nursing Federation