Final answer:
The devaluation of the nursing profession would likely lead to an extension of the ongoing nursing shortage by negatively affecting job satisfaction and discouraging new entries into the field, despite potentially higher salaries due to decreased supply.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the nursing profession continues to be devalued by demeaning or comical images of nurses, it is unlikely that this will result in better wages or improved conditions within the profession. In fact, one possible outcome of continuous devaluation of nurses could be that the nursing shortage will extend. When a profession is not valued, it can lead to decreased job satisfaction, lower morale among current nurses, and discourage potentially interested individuals from entering the profession.
Furthermore, the economics of supply and demand as depicted in Figure 4.11 suggests that while the decreasing supply of nurses may lead to higher salaries initially, it is not a sustainable solution. The decrease in nurses, caused by retirements and potentially by devaluation, leads to a leftward shift in the supply curve. This can indeed result in higher salaries for nurses at a new equilibrium price Pe2; however, the overall number of nurses employed—equilibrium quantity—remains uncertain and could be lower than optimal levels, exacerbating the shortage.
It is a complex issue where simple salary increases do not directly solve the systemic problem of how the job is perceived and valued. A focus on raising the status and professional image of nurses could play a vital role in resolving shortages in the long term.