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Factors in Nursing Shortage and Future Concerns
Factors in Nursing Shortage and Future Concerns
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Since the 70s new job opportunities have consistently opened for women, and stresses have been piled onto the nursing profession, causing many to opt for careers other than nursing. Careers are now being weighed against interests, compensation, and quality of life, and, unfortunately, nursing is falling short in these areas at the moment. Women can now pursue a variety of lucrative, attractive, and competitive careers that were unachievable under the same circumstances 30 years ago. Women are now vying for positions in the corporate world and going to law school in droves. Statistically, women are 35% less likely to choose a career in nursing now than they would in the 70s, just from the sheer amount of new opportunities.
Declining Enrollment and Educators
Nursing school admissions have dropped drastically over the last 6 years. Additionally 32,617 applicants to nursing colleges were rejected in 2005 because of a shortage in nursing educators. As the age of existing faculty continues to climb, potential educators are lured away from teaching by prospects of higher compensation. In a 2006 report the Health Resources and Services Administration stated that 90 percent more nurses must graduate to meet the projected demand for nursing services in the United States.
Age
The current average age of nurses has risen significantly over the past 20 years, due to the lack of youths entering the nursing field. In Maryland alone, the average age for an RN is 46 years, while nationally the average age is 43 years. Around half of the nurse workforce will reach the age of retirement within the next 15 years. Not to mention, the average new RN graduates at age 31. Therefore, nurses are entering the field later and offering fewer years of service.
Concerns for the Future
The demand for nurses in America is expected to balloon within the next 20 years. This demand will be ushered in as baby boomers reach their 60s. Population levels age 65 and older are expected to double by 2030. On top of that, population level age 85 and up is currently the fasting growing age group. Nursing jobs are ranked with the seventh highest job growth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The concern is, that while this time of increases demand for nurses continues, the number of nurses per capita will decline drastically. In fact, the number of nurses is expected to fall to 20 percent below requirements by 2020.
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