Probably a better approach would be less pay for better quality of life jobs* which would still require more doctors and slightly more overall pay.
Also a lot more nurses; since with the baby boomer generation in and entering retirement the need isn't going to go down relative to historic levels.
* Edit:
By better quality of life I mean things like having a 4 x 8 hour shifts with each having about 2 hours of overlap for review of records, passing down, and filling out post shift paperwork. Yes nurses would need similar shifts, the overlap also gives time for the transfer of knowledge, in the process of getting it entered/updated in the health record systems.
A lot of nurses already work 3x13 or 4x10-12 shifts, many also work secondary nurse staffing (temp/onsite) jobs beyond their regular work. The work is definitely under valued, and there is some range in pay, but the top caps out relatively low for the knowledge and experience.
Some locations don't allow nurses to unionize or strike. In AZ, for example, there's an inverse-union all the hospitals joined that member providers for staffing have to comply with contracted rates, etc. Which I don't know why it doesn't go afoul of the right to work laws here, I don't know (probably lack of prosecution).
In the end, it varies a lot and at some point there will definitely be more collective negotiation going on. Pay will have to go up in a lot of locations.
Also a lot more nurses; since with the baby boomer generation in and entering retirement the need isn't going to go down relative to historic levels.
* Edit:
By better quality of life I mean things like having a 4 x 8 hour shifts with each having about 2 hours of overlap for review of records, passing down, and filling out post shift paperwork. Yes nurses would need similar shifts, the overlap also gives time for the transfer of knowledge, in the process of getting it entered/updated in the health record systems.
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