week 5: chapter 17:Shortage or oversupply? The registered nursing workforce pendulum Flashcards
When did Canada experience a downward trend in the registered nurse workforce?
a. 1965
b. 1973
c. 2004
d. 2014
ANS: D
There was a steady increase in the nursing workforce in Canada from the 1960s to 2014, when a downward trend started.
In 2018, what percentage of all registered nurses in Canada worked in a hospital setting?
a. 63.6%
b. 73.6%
c. 33.5%
d. 10.8%
ANS: A
In 2018, 63.6% of all registered nurses in Canada worked in hospitals.
In 2018, what percentage of the regulated nurses who worked in long-term care facilities in Canada were from the licensed practical nurse (LPN) category of nurses?
a. 24%
b. 90%
c. 58%
d. 100%
ANS: C
In 2018, 58% of regulated nurses who worked in long-term care facilities in Canada were from the LPN category of nurses.
Which of the following changes in the percentage of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) has occurred in Canada since 2014?
a. Percentage of LPNs increased and RNs decreased
b. Percentage of LPNs decreased and RNs increased
c. Percentage of LPNs increased and RNs increased d. Percentage of RNs increased and LPNs decreased
ANS: C
The percentage of LPNs in the health care workforce in Canada has increased overall by 3.1% since 2014, and the percentage of RNs has increased by 1.5%.
Registered nurses’ knowledge and skills have expanded in area of telehealth and telephone advice to include which of the following?
a. Computer programming
b. Designing algorithms
c. Online counselling
d. Patient education
ANS: C
As technology has expanded access to patients in rural and remote areas, RNs’ knowledge and skills have expanded to include online counselling sessions for people who cannot access the services where they live.
In 2018, which province allowed registered nurses (RNs) to prescribe certain medications and be able to communicate a diagnosis for the purpose of prescribing?
a. Newfoundland
b. Alberta
c. Quebec
d. Ontario
ANS: D
In 2018, RNs in Ontario were allowed to prescribe certain medications and be able to communicate a diagnosis for the purpose of prescribing.
Which of the following is a trend in the employment of health care workers in Canada?
a. Registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered practical
nurses (RPNs) remain the largest occupational group.
b. Physicians and pharmacists remain the largest occupational group.
c. Social workers and community health nurses are the largest occupational group.
d. RNs and physicians remain the largest occupation groups.
ANS: A
As of 2018, registered and licensed nurses (RNs, LPNs, and RPNs) remain the largest occupational group in Canada.
In 2018, which group of regulated nurses in Canada had the highest percentage of nurses over
the age of 50 years?
a. Licensed practical nurses
b. Registered nurses
c. Nurse educators
d. Nurse practitioners
ANS: C
In 2018, nurse educators were the group with the highest age average—58% over 50 years old, compared to 34.1% of the registered nurse workforce over 50 years old.
The trend in the growth of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) outpacing registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) is partly due to which of the following factors?
a. LPNs are replacing RNs in the Critical Care Unit.
b. LPNs are replacing RNs in the emergency department.
c. LPNs are replacing RNs in medicine.
d. LPNs are replacing RNs in community care.
ANS: D
There is a trend for growth of LPNs outpacing RN and NP growth, partly due to LPNs being used to replace RNs in certain settings, such as long-term care and community care.
Which of the following is a challenge that continues to face the nursing profession due to nursing shortages?
a. Professional structures that are quick to empower nurses
b. Structural changes that increase the quality of work–life balance
c. Coordinated retention and recruitment strategies
d. Young nurses leaving the profession
ANS: D
One of the continuing challenges within the nursing profession is young nurses leaving the profession
Which of the following is a strategy recommended by the Canadian Nurses Association to address the anticipated nursing shortage?
a. Create flexible hours in work schedules
b. Increase nurses’ hourly rate of pay
c. Improve working conditions
d. Pay for nurses to attend conferences
ANS: A
According to the Canadian Nurses Association, one of the strategies to address the anticipated nursing shortage in 2022 is to create flexible hours in nurses’ work schedules.
One of the four pillars of the federal Health Human Resources Strategy is the more effective use of health care providers’ skills. Which of the following strategies would be supported by this pillar?
a. Enhancing nurses’ working conditions
b. Creating incentives to retain experienced nurses
c. Developing a bonus incentive for northern nurses
d. Supporting nurses to work to their full scope of practice
ANS: D
The pillar of more effective use of skills refers to increasing the productivity of health care providers by making full use of their skills.
Nurses working in a remote or rural location report that their main reasons for staying are related to which of the following?
a. Family, types of patients, and income
b. Weather, technology, and income
c. Community services, family, and income
d. Location, practice setting, and income
ANS: D
Nurses report their decision to stay in a remote location is often based on the location, the practice setting, and income.
In 2018, despite a 7.4% national net inflow of nurses, which provinces or territories did not have a positive inflow of regulated nurses? (Select all that apply.)
a. Ontario
b. Northwest Territories
c. Manitoba
d. Newfoundland and Labrador
e. Nunavut
f. British Colombia
g. Vancouver
ANS: B, D, E
In 2018, there was a national net inflow of regulated nurses of 7.4%. The only provinces or territories that did not have a positive inflow of regulated nurses were Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Which of the following factors could create a negative imbalance in the supply and demand of registered nurses (RNs)? (Select all that apply.)
a. Lack of educational opportunities for nurses
b. A culture of incivility in the workplace
c. Permanent full-time jobs for all nurses
d. Lack of support from nursing management
e. Increased absenteeism of nurses
f. Policies on harassment in the workplace
g. Faculty equipment and lack of technology
ANS: A, B, D, G
Reasons for imbalances in the supply and demand of RNs include lack of respect, limited autonomy and authority in clinical situations, lack of technological and management support, lack of educational opportunities, continued casualization through increasing part-time and casual positions that cause increased absenteeism and turnover, and an inability to participate in management decisions about resource allocation, which affects support services and staffing.
