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Background
A quick search online will show that most individuals go into the field of nursing for similar reasons; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sums it up nicely, citing nurses have “…a desire to serve others…a personal calling…and a desire to work in the [healthcare] field with the sick, in a noble and caring profession.” As a registered nurse who worked at the bedside for more than seven years, HDAI’s Emily Hightower, RN, CPN, MSN can attest that these are the same reasons she went into the field. Her passion for nursing propelled her through most of those years, despite demanding situations.
Her experience allowed her to work as a nurse in Haiti, Tanzania, and Malawi. While there are some vast differences among those countries and the United States, a common theme did emerge: nurses are short staffed and burned out everywhere.
Nursing is a highly respected field, and according to Nursing World it “has been ranked for 23 years straight as the most ethical and honest profession”. So, it begs the question…if nurses are honorable, ethical, and passionate, why are the rates of nurses fleeing the profession so high?