THE NURSING SHORTAGE

How bad is it? What does it mean for nursing education?

According to a federal study released April 14, 2008, the American medical system is not prepared for the flood of aging baby boomers expected to rise in the next three years.*

The facts are in. There is a shortage of nurses in the United States. This is bad news for the nation’s health care system – but good news for potential nursing students.

“Though the nursing shortage is being felt to varying degrees in all parts of the country, the shortage is most acute in rural areas, followed by urban and then suburban areas,” said Robert Rosseter, Associate Executive Director of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Consider these numbers:

• According to a survey released in July 2006 by Bernard Hodes Group, 55% of surveyed nurses intended to retire between 2011 and 2020.
• The U.S. Department of Labor projected in November 2005 that more than 1.2 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2014.
• According to a 2005 survey by the American College of Health Executives on the top issues confronting hospitals, 85% of hospital CEOs report having a shortage of registered nurses.

“Hospitals are feeling the pinch, since nursing care is now needed in many other settings, including community health centers, long-term care centers, non-hospital based surgical centers, and clinics,” said Rosseter.

There are a couple of trends at work here at the same time.

The first is that the baby boomers – that huge chunk of the population born in the 1940s and 1950s – are growing older. And, naturally, as they age, they are requiring more health care and services, especially those provided by nurses.

According to The Los Angeles Times, there are 78 million baby boomers. In three years, the first of those 78 million will turn 65 -- and by 2030, all baby boomers will be 65 or older.

Second, the health care delivery system is evolving. Due to a number of factors including economics and technology, many medical services once provided in a hospital setting or provided by doctors are now being performed by nurses.

Third, the population of current nurses is aging. So while more new nurses are required, older nurses are retiring or leaving their jobs.

While these trends are not good for the health care system at large, they are good for nursing students and those contemplating entering the nursing profession. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than 700,000 new Registered Nurse jobs alone will be created in the next ten years.

“As the nursing shortage intensifies, employers are moving to enhance work settings and provide new incentives for their nursing staff,” said Rosseter

How could the shortage affect prospective students?

“The nursing shortage has also focused federal attention on the need to remove economic barriers to the profession,” said Rosseter.

Some nursing schools are forming strategic partnerships with private industries to prepare more nurses. For example, in Florida, Blue Shield of Florida donated $600,000 to the University of North Florida and the University of Florida to address critical needs in nursing education.

Another way that the shortage is being addressed is through the growth of accelerated nursing programs, like the Accelerated Degree BS, which is aimed at students who already have a degree in one field but wish to pursue a nursing education. Such programs usually last 12-20 months and provide a comparatively quick route to RN licensure.**

“In the past five years, the number of accelerated nursing programs has nearly doubled with more than 180 such programs available nationwide,” said Rosseter.

**Time to completion is not a guarantee and will vary by level of commitment by student, class schedule, specific program, and various other factors.

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