The shortage of nurses in the United States is reaching the level of a health care emergency, Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals/AFT president Sandra Feldman told the FNHP's annual professional issues conference June 2. To find a new way of recruiting people into the profession, Feldman has announced that the union will be establishing a task force of national health care experts to explore what it will take to attract more people--including men and minorities--to the overwhelmingly female-dominated profession.

Statistics show that over a 10-year period ending in 2008, said Feldman, some 450,000 more registered nurses and 136,000 licensed practical nurses will be needed. This comes at a time when nursing school enrollments have declined drastically. This shortage also comes as a result of a nursing professional's job "becoming so difficult and frustrating and draining," said Feldman. "Nurses everywhere are being denied the opportunity to provide patients the care they need and deserve... while health care conglomerates get rich.

"The epidemic of disillusionment among health care professionals is as serious as an epidemic of disease among patients, and it requires national attention before it is too late."

The union task force would be the first national panel to tackle nurse recruiting, with a special focus on expanding beyond the usual pool of female candidates. "Where will the next generation of caregivers come from when the extraordinary women who built this profession--who are this profession--and young people are looking at other options?" Feldman asked. "We need not just women but men, too, to see this as a fulfilling career. We need to get a better handle on the developing nursing shortage and its solutions."

FNHP leader Candice Owley, who opened the conference along with Feldman, noted that the crisis of care that's producing a nursing shortage may also be causing veteran health care leaders to leave the field. "A word to experienced and mature leaders: I do know that you're getting tired," said Owley. "But our movement needs us as the voice of experience on the struggles we've gone through and particularly for this exciting time in organizing--you stand as a beacon in the storm that is raging." Owley told the conference audience, many of whom are long-time FNHP leaders, "it's not yet time for you to mellow. Just take a few more breaks and take heart with the winds of success we've had ... but don't leave."