This article is written from an Australian perspective

The Australian Government who fund health care as well as those who run private Aged Care facilities and Hospitals really must consider the lack of qualified nurses at this time . Australia is an aging population with 25% of the population over 65 years of age .,
There is an urgency to fill the gaps that exist between nurses to do the job and people who need to be cared for . Its time now for our heath care agencies to start a campaign on social media and radio and television to recruit young people to consider nursing as their chosen career ,
There is a current need to support our nurses in the work force who are working longer shifts , because there is not enough trained nurses to do the work that’s required . The intake of nurses from other countries are increasing because there are no incentives in Australia for school leavers to look at nursing as a full time career .
The cost of nursing courses at University should be dropped and more assistance given to those overseas students who have come through migration to commence work . They need accommodation and assistance with further education because of the different standards that exist between overseas qualifications and the standards set in Australia to satisfy accreditation to work here as a registered or an enrolled nurse .
The Department of Health in Australia realize there are not enough enough nursing homes to care for our older Australians and the cannot built new facilities fast enough to accommodate the need so they have put in place a fill in solution called aged in place .
There is funding available through aged care packaging , to assist people our aged in their own home however once again we need more community nurses to work in the field . Many community nurses have to travel many kilometers every day to help the aged and disabled in our local communities .
Its not all about money , its also about recognizing the invaluable work nurses and carers are doing . Many of our nurses and carers are tired and exhausted , they may just need a thank you . So the next time you're in a hospital and need a nurse , or if you’re receiving assistance at home with your everyday care , or the next time you would someone in a nursing home , or the next time you would see someone in a wheel chair with a carer in the supermarket who may be disabled or even at deaths door , why not say to the nurse or carer , you’re doing a good job .