According to a survey published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, about 100,000 registerednurses in the US left the workforce due to Covid-19 pandemic stress. The survey also showed that an additional610,388 registered nurses with more than ten years of experience and an average age of 57 plan to leave theworkforce by 2027 due to stress, burnout, or retirement. Furthermore, 189,000 nurses with ten or fewer years ofexperience and an average age of 36 are also planning to leave the industry for similar reasons.
       The survey analyzed data from over 29,000 registered and advanced nurses and more than 24,000 licensedpractical or vocational nurses in 45 states. The study found that over a quarter of those surveyed plan to leave theindustry or retire in the next five years. The pandemic increased workload for about 62% of nurses, and 50.8% saidthey felt emotionally drained at work. Almost half of the nurses, specifically 49.7% and 45.1%, reported feelingfatigued or burnt-out, respectively. These issues were particularly prevalent among nurses with less than ten yearsof experience.
       The findings of the study, particularly related to younger nurses, shocked Maryann Alexander, chief officerof nursing regulation at NCSBN and one of the authors of the study. Alexander expressed concern that the industrywill soon rely on nurses with less than ten years of experience to act as mentors, managers, and leaders in nursingcare, which will lead to a significant healthcare crisis. Alexander also stated that while it is common for youngnurses to leave the industry to pursue further education, it is uncommon for them to leave due to stress and burnout.
       The report indicates that the exhausted tone among nurses was a significant factor behind a strike in NewYork in January, where over 7,000 nurses demanded attention to staffing shortages and burnout. The strike endedwhen the New York State Nurses Association reached tentative agreements with two hospitals, Mount Sinai HealthSystem and Montefiore Health System, with enforceable “safe staffing ratios” for all inpatient units and financialpenalties for failing to comply with agreed-upon staffing levels.
       The researchers of the survey believe that the findings pose a threat to the US healthcare workforce, especiallyamong younger and less experienced nurses. Hospitals and policymakers must act quickly to address thesechallenges and enact solutions
【題組】30. What is the purpose of this passage?
(A) To introduce a new-found disease and its possible cures.
(B) To discuss the pros and cons of pursuing a nursing career.
(C) To present an unusual phenomenon and its possible causes.
(D) To explore the link between poor hygiene habits and contracting Covid-19.