The shortage of nurses is critical.
The dramatic increase in the overall population and the decrease in the number of nursing student projects an unfavorable trend. The advancements in medical technology and a corresponding complexity in nursing techniques needs nurses who are competently capable of being a mentor for these coming new nursing graduates.
The Department of health and Human services have an estimate of 110,700 registered nurses full time in 2000.The Bureau of labor and statistics identifies nursing as one of the twenty occupation to be affected by the baby boomers retirements with employers needing to replace an estimated 331,000 between 1998 and 2008 estimating a half million shortage of nurses by the end of this century.
IN 2020, ACCORDING TO JAMA 2008,there will be an estimated shortage of 800,000 nurses? With the world population living longer and needing more care, the healthcare field is one of the best places to get a job, and will likely stay that way for many years to come.
Because of the increasing need for nurses, some hospitals are offering sign in bonuses of up to $14,000 for experienced nurses.
The ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE OF NURSING, projected nursing shortage in 2025 to be 260,000 registered nurses.This is said to be twice as large as the nursing shortage in 1960. What will be the implication of this nursing shortage to the care of the sick and the aging baby boomers?
This alarming number should challenge those who are interested in this field. This is a huge challenge to the health care industry and anyone who has a little bit of interest in this caring profession should start now. Many hospital are launching hospital sponsored educational opportunities for students who want to pursue a nursing career.
