LSAT-4-3-22

22. Nursing schools cannot attract a greater number of able applicants than they currently do unless the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions in the nursing profession are solved. If the pool of able applicants to nursing school does not increase beyond the current level, either the profession will have to lower its entrance standards, or there will soon be an acute shortage of nurses. It is not certain, however, that lowering entrance standards will avert a shortage. It is clear that with either a shortage of nurses or lowered entrance standards of the profession, the current high quality of health care cannot be maintained. Which one of the following can be property inferred from the passage?

(A) If the nursing profession solves the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions, it will attract able applicants in greater numbers than it currently does.

(B) The nursing profession will have to lower its entrance standards if the pool of able applicants to nursing school does not increase beyond the current level.

(C) If the nursing profession solves the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions, high quality health care will be maintained.

(D) If the nursing profession fails to solve the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions, there will soon be an acute shortage of nurses.

(E) The current high quality of health care will not be maintained if the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions in the nursing profession are not solved.

According to the stem, I work out a chart:

Healthcare quality cannot be maintained → not to lower wage or no shortage of nurse → greater number of able nurse applicants → Low wage + high work stress. The key is E. I cannot work E out on my chart unless my chart is wrong.

For sufficient condition, if A , then B , from A, you can get B, but from B, you cannot find A.   Also, B cannot --> neg A (the fallacy of your first step, declined quality--> not lower standard or shortage).

For neccessary condition, without A , you cannot find B , with B, you can get A.  

the whole line of reasoning is ,  

no improvement of wages and conditions --> no greater number -->then lower standard or shortage --> declined quality .

So, no improvement on wages and conditionns ( A) --> declined quality ( B)

A here is the necessary condition for B , From B , can find A.