“By 2025, the shortage of registered nurses is expected to increase to about 260,000, double any nursing shortage in the United States since the 1960s” ( Cullen). Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They provide general care and treatment to patients. Additionally, as the patient is admitted to, stays in, and leaves the healthcare facility, nurses take care of all their needs and the families' concerns. When facilities are understaffed, patients and nurses suffer. On top of the shortages America is facing, nurses are increasingly stressed and overworked. At the same time, patient care is declining. There are two areas of staffing shortages in the United States. First, schools do not accept enough qualified applicants into nursing programs. Additionally, baby boomers are retiring leaving a huge gap of unfilled nursing positions. The nursing shortage should not occur on such a monumental scale because there are enough qualified applicants who want to be accepted into schools. However, the problem does not exist in the shortage of people who want to become nurses. “The number of students who met all requirements but were not admitted was more than 67,000 students last year…” (Courchane). Students want to become nurses and want to make a difference in the lives of others. While they have the drive, good grades, and support to become a great nurse, they can't. Why? They are not accepted into the program due to funding. The nursing shortage exists because schools do not have the funds needed to open schools and pay teachers. As a result, when budgets are cut, nursing school administrators must admit fewer s... half paper... ussr shortages." Business and Financial News, Latest U.S. and International News (2009): Web . November 17, 2011. .Fox, Rebecca L. and Kathleen Abrahamson "A Critical Examination of the Nursing Shortage in the United States: Contributing Factors, Public Policy Implications" EBSCO Host/Nursing Forum 44.4 (2009): 235 -244. November 17, 2011. .Kelly, Karen “Is the DNP the Answer to the Nursing Faculty Shortage? Not likely!" EBSCO Host/ Nursing Forum 45.4 (2010): 266-270. Web. November 17, 2011. .Madkour, Rash. "Nursing shortage: 1 in 5 leaves within first year, study says." USA Today [ Miami , FL]. USA Today, February 15, 2009. Web. January 1. “The Nurse Shortage in 2010: Overcoming Obstacles and Devising New Strategies.”. 2011.