KNOWLEDGE AND CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT
A compelling reason for huilding a peritiperative
WBR is the management and recording of
information as well as kiiowledge accumulated
by staff members. The need for recording this
knowledge will become increasingly important
during the next 15 years, as more than 40"^ of
the RN population in the United States retires.
The loss of these nurses from the workforce is
expected to result in a national shortage of
400,000 nurses by 2010, largely because of retirement,
decreased nursing program enrollment,
career changes, and the aging population.'
When tliese data are put into the context of losl
years of experience, the nursing profession and
subspecialties such as perioperative nursing will