“By 2025, the shortage of registered nurses is expected to reach approximately 260,000, twice as many as any nursing shortage in the United States since the 1960s » (Cullen). Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They provide comprehensive care and treatment to patients. Additionally, as the patient is admitted, stays in, and leaves the health care facility, nurses attend to all of the patient's needs and family concerns. When facilities are not adequately staffed, patients and nurses suffer. In addition to the shortages America faces, nurses are increasingly stressed and overworked. At the same time, patient care is decreasing. There are two areas where staffing shortages are occurring in the United States. First, schools are not accepting enough qualified applicants into nursing programs. Additionally, baby boomers are retiring, leaving a huge void of vacant nursing positions. Nursing shortages are not expected to occur on such an epic scale because there are enough qualified applicants wanting to be accepted into schools. However, the problem does not exist in the shortage of people wanting to become nurses. “The number of students who met all requirements but were not admitted was over 67,000 students last year…” (Courchane). Students want to become nurses and want to make a difference in the lives of others. Even if they have the drive, good grades, and support to become a great nurse, they can't. For what? They are not accepted into the program due to funding. The nursing shortage exists because schools do not have the funds to open schools and pay teachers. As a result, when budgets are cut, nursing school administrators must admit fewer s...... middle of paper ...... shortages of care. " Business and Financial News, Breaking US and International News (2009): Web. November 17, 2011. Fox, Rebecca L. and Kathleen Abrahamson. "A Critical Examination of the Nursing Shortage in the United States: Contributing Factors, Implications in Public Policy." -244. Web. November 17, 2011. .Kelly, Karen "Is the DNP the Answer to the Nursing Faculty Shortage? EBSCO Host/Nursing Forum 45.4 (2010): 266-270. Web. November 17, 2011. Madkour, Rash. “Nursing shortage: 1 in 5 drop out in first year, study finds.” USA Today [Miami, FL] USA Today, February 15, 2009. Web. January 1. “The Nursing Shortage in 2010: Overcoming Obstacles and Developing New Strategies.” » My nursing diploma, March 17. Nov. 2011.