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Fact: There really is a nursing shortage by Carla Harvey Ambulatory Surgery We have all heard about a nursing shortage and many of us have experienced it, but what are the facts? Is there really a nursing shortage?  When I was presented with the information from the South Carolina Colleagues in Caring Project at the Coastal Nurses Association’s legislative breakfast on Jan. 26 by Renatta Loquist, I understood that there really is a nursing shortage. I was given facts and figures that added up to my understanding of a shortage in the workforce. Let me share some of these facts and figures and let you make your decision as to a true shortage coming. South Carolina ranked 42 of the 50 states with nurses below the national average  (We are fortunate here as we have travelers from the north come and stay with us.) By 2015 (that is only 13 years away), 30 percent of the current registered nurse workforce will be 55 and older, while 6 percent are predicted to be under age 30 88 percent of South Carolina licensed registered nurses are currently employed in S.C., 74 percent are full time 100 faculty vacancies are anticipated in SC nursing schools in the next five years (25 percent) Grant funding for education will expire June 30 What are my thoughts to these facts? The first fact speaks for itself; we are below the national average for nurses in our state. My own nursing unit has nurses who migrated from the north and did not stay in their home states where they trained. And yes, nurses are getting older. Not only are the seasoned nurses advancing in years, but also many students that come through my facility are older to start their training. We need to make nursing an attractive career for our youth (we will need nurses to take care of us).  Many nurses who have been practicing for years now have families and other interests that keep them busy so that they work part time. The full-time nurse is slowly disappearing.  Can you believe our state is going to lose a quarter of its nursing school instructors in the next five years? Think about it: How many of you have visited your alumni to see how many of the same instructors there? They will soon be retiring. Who will teach the new nurses who will take care of us when we need them? Government educational monies from grants here in South Carolina will be expiring in June. Those incentives that keep students in school will be discontinued and decrease enrollment. What can we do?  We can always encourage our out-of-town nurses to stick around and enjoy our beautiful state and friendly people. We need to speak to our local and state political officials and let them know we need support on the nursing issues, more grant money, money for new students and monies for graduate students to get their master's and doctorate degrees to be able to instruct our nurses.  We can speak to the middle school and high school students who are seeking goals in life and are highly influenced. Let us not only let the mass media show them what opportunities await them, but be personable and tell them what a great career choice nursing is. Let us brag on our diversity, flexible schedules, and educational opportunities as well as the strokes we receive for caring for patients (all too often we complain about our nursing careers and it discourages our profession). Ask the guidance counselors if they have a career day and set up a table or give a brief talk (students always want to get out of class and they will come and listen). Take a young nurse and a male nurse with you as they relate to the kids well. It won’t take that much time and you can reap many rewards.  Think about it. When you need a nurse to take care of you in a few years, who will be available? Will there be nursing technicians who take a one-month course and then go to the bedside? Will our medical facilities open their doors to nurses in other countries and allow their license to practice here in the United States?  Legislation is considering the allowance of Canadian nurses to practice in the United States under their Canadian license. The American Nursing Association (ANA) feels Canadian education and training is not comparable to the ANA standards of care. How skilled do you want the nurses to be who are taking care of you and your loved ones?