Nurse Shortage Cure: More Job Satisfaction

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WASHINGTON (Cox) -- A growing shortage of nurses can be remedied only if hospitals restore some of the job satisfaction lost amid cost-cutting, officials of a nurse placement firm say.

Higher pay is needed, but not as much as better working conditions, said Joseph A. Boshart, president of Cross Country Staffing, which provides temporary nursing staff for hospitals nationwide.

He offered those conclusions after his company hosted a conference here Monday on how to deal with the twin trends of a nurse shortage and new state mandates requiring hospitals to raise nurse-patient ratios.

"This is a terrific business environment for us," acknowledged Boshart. …