Final answer:
Employers may require nurses to work more hours or take on added responsibilities when nursing staff availability tightens due to increased demand from government regulations. This could lead to higher salaries for nurses as the demand for their specialized skills increases, and less-trained healthcare workers are limited in certain tasks.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the availability of nursing staff tightens, employers may require nurses to work additional hours, take on more responsibilities, or adapt to new regulations that could potentially lead to higher salaries. Complying with government regulations can increase the demand for nurses, as these rules may mandate that certain medical procedures be carried out by qualified nursing staff. This often results in an increased need for skilled nurses and a decreased demand for less-trained healthcare workers, leading to a shift in labor demand within the healthcare industry.
Moreover, when less-trained workers are prohibited from performing certain procedures due to stringent government regulations, the demand for nurses is expected to rise. This can tighten the availability of nursing staff and push employers to impose more demanding work conditions on existing staff. An outcome of such regulatory compliance might be that nurses will see their salaries increase, even though it is not certain if the number of nursing positions will rise or fall relative to initial employment levels.