Recent reports find that early childhood educators fear the downturn reading comprehension and literacy skills have taken in childhood development. This decline risks impacting the next generation of students looking to join the healthcare workforce and exacerbating the shortage of workers.
A new report compares results from last year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to that of pre-pandemic levels. Scores indicating “below basic” reading skills are at the highest they have been since the founding of the NAEP nearly thirty years ago. What’s more concerning? The decline in scores can be traced well before the pandemic began.
While the NAEP exam is recognized to be more challenging than other state-level standardized tests, even higher-achieving students in eighth grade remain below pre-pandemic levels. Among fourth graders, “below basic” reading levels are at an all-time low, around 40%.
Alongside these jarring reports, researchers echo concerns about adult skills during the same period of decline. Some scientists are looking at screen time, cell phones, and social media as enablers of displaced reading and short attention spans. So, what does this mean for our healthcare workforce?
Consider prospective college students who take The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), a nursing assessment which examines skills that are deemed necessary for students entering prelicensure nursing or allied health programs. According to research conducted by ATI Nursing, among students who took the TEAS but had decided to delay their applications to nursing programs, 69% said their decision was due to a lack of academic preparedness.
Strengthening the nation’s healthcare workforce is vital. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be about 31,900 openings for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners between 2023 and 2033. If the percentage of students delaying their applications to nursing schools does not rise soon, these openings will not be filled. Add to that the growing number of allied health professionals needed to meet demand in the years ahead, and it is clear that the U.S. will need to help students succeed academically so they can advance their careers and serve patients.
There is a clear increase in interest among students in pursuing healthcare careers and an even clearer demand for healthcare professions in the field. The issue of academic preparedness must be addressed to meet growing demands in the healthcare industry.
To read the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report, CLICK HERE.
To read more about this report, CLICK HERE.