A hospital is experiencing a drop in patient admissions, resulting in the implementation of a hiring freeze. What is a potential critical consequence of this internal organizational decision?

A) A decrease in the availability of future nurses to hire
B) A savings of salaries and benefits
C) Increased scholarships to nursing students from the local high school
D) Increased cross-training of current staff

In an economic climate where hospitals are not hiring, nursing schools may limit enrollment which will limit the availability of future nurses available to be hired when the current nurses retire or reduce their hours. Salary savings is minimal as the number of patients, staffing, and revenue are closely aligned. Scholarships will decrease as hiring commitments to scholarship holders will no longer be in effect. Cross-training may occur, but it is not a critical consequence of a hiring freeze.