Statement by Sandra Feldman
President, American Federation of Teachers/AFT Healthcare
on Campaign to Encourage School Children to Consider
Nursing and Other Health Careers

AFT and its healthcare division, AFT Healthcare, endorse the Bush administration's "Kids into Health Careers" campaign, given the severe shortages in nearly every health occupation. But until working conditions change, it may be difficult to attract people to the profession.

Nurses and other health professionals have been lodging legitimate complaints about mandatory overtime, short-staffing and other problems that jeopardize patient care and the employees' own health. Getting people interested in a health career is a great idea, but actually recruiting and keeping them is a challenge that can be overcome by improved working conditions and better salaries.

(According to the AFT Healthcare's publication State of the Healthcare Workforce 2001, it is anticipated that by 2008, there will be a need for more than 450,000 registered nurses; 136,000 more licensed practical nurses; 53,000 more clinical laboratory technologists and technicians; 40,000 more physical therapists; 36,000 more respiratory therapists and 25,000 more occupational therapists.)

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