Nursing Shortage in the US

The aging population of the United States and improvements in health care technology has created a drastic nursing shortage in the US. Other factors that have created an increased demand for nurses include the overall population growth experienced by the country and the resulting need for health care services and a decrease in the number of new nursing students currently in school.

The diminishing number of nurses has lead to the creation of good paying jobs that are difficult to find given the current economic conditions. Thanks to the dramatic improvements in medical technology in the past decade, there is a growing need for people who are both skilled and able to work in specialized positions such as managed care, hospice, skilled nursing, and home-care.

These issues, combined with the decrease in skilled nurses and growth in health care jobs means that hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, and many other institutions are desperately seeking employees who are able to provide specialized care.

There is a large body of evidence that suggests that the shortage in the US is rapidly approaching a critical level. Recent research shows that the average age of RNs has increased to 42 between 1983 and 1998, and within ten years, almost half of working nurses will be over age fifty. As those nurses leave the work force, the supply of registered nurses is projected to be as much as twenty percent below demand in just ten years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the available jobs for registered nurses will grow by more than twenty percent in the next two years, yet the number of new nursing students is steadily dropping.

So what does the nursing shortage in the US mean for those considering becoming nurses? In order to attract nurses, many health care facilities are offering significant benefits including large signing bonuses and larger than ever salaries for nurses qualified to work in specialty care areas. Even the government has recognized the potential effects of the nursing shortage, and has begun offering programs that make it more affordable than ever to complete a nursing degree.

As the nursing shortage continues to grow, the demand for nurses of all levels is likely to grow as well, raising the salaries of nurses as well. In fact, some areas of the country are seeing the salaries in specialty nursing fields such as Nurse Anesthetist and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner rise to six figures- or more.

The demand for nurses, particularly those with skills in specialty fields, shows no sign of stopping. While many jobs are outsourced and most industries are experiencing layoffs and salary drops, the health care field continues to expand. A growing number of schools are increasing their offerings for nurses, providing more opportunities for continuing education and programs designed to meet the needs of working adults.

The nursing shortage has created jobs in one of the most personally and financially rewarding sectors of the economy, and those who enter the field now will likely see the most job security of any career in the country despite changes in the economy.