Florida has become concerned that the nursing shortage in the state
will worsen. Health care reform and the state's aging population are
signs that Florida may be in trouble.
According to the Florida Center for Nursing semi-annual forecast, there
could be a shortage of more than 50,000 registered nurses (RNs) and
12,600 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) by the year 2025. "We have been
keeping very much abreast of what would be the impact," said Edwin
Loftin, vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer with Parrish
Medical Center.
Hospitals and nursing schools in Brevard County are attempting to
minimize the impact of a severe nursing shortage, expected over the next
15 years as medical demands in the state soar. Brevard hospitals provide
hands-on clinical training for nursing students, and often choose
employees from graduates who studied at the hospital. "We have to create
more partnerships with education with our communities over the next five
years to meet those needs," Loftin said.
The recent recession actually helped helped to alleviate a chronic
nursing shortage as retired nurses re-entered the workforce and as
nurses who had entered other fields came back to nursing after losing
jobs due to the recession.
Temporarily, the nursing shortage was somewhat resolved by former nurses.
However, demand for health care will soon out-shadow the number of
trained and experienced nurses available in the American workforce.
Between 2015 and 2020 baby boomer nurses are expected to begin to retire
in large numbers.
"That's where the research shows we're going to have some shortages,"
Loftin said.
Health care reform will also contribute to high demand for medical care.
The law, if unaltered, will bring millions of people who have never had
health care under the care of nurses and medical providers. If we do not
expand the number of health care providers in America, our medical
system will be under a crippling burden.
The nation is looking to schools can help in this crisis by producing
more highly trained nurses. The Florida Center for Nursing's forecast
shows that if the number of new graduate nurses increases by five
percent each year for six years, the 2025 shortfall of registered nurses
falls to 31,000.
The nursing shortage is currently a burden to nurses, but the future
looks bright for nursing. Those deciding to pursue the career will find
new opportunities given to nursing students, and the growing demand for
nurses means that job placement is less of a concern, which is certainly
a blessing in our current job market. The 144 Brevard Community College
nursing school gradates already have a 95 to 100 percent placement rate.
The shortage is also driving up starting pay, which is now averaging
around $50,000 a year. Nursing, long considered a woman's profession, is
attracting more male eyes; somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of
nursing students are male.
Nursing schools and hospitals are in a precarious situation. They need
to increase enrollment and increase staffing, but there are numerous
budgetary concerns. With numerous victories for nurses around the world
demanding safe staffing ratios and increased nurse hiring, it seems like
we will simply have to find a way.