US nursing shortage may again spur recruitment from PH
A The New York Times editorial in 1956 warned that “The nationwide shortage of nurses is likely to reach crisis proportions.” Now over six decades later, the shortage again seems far from being resolved due to a rising elderly population, a large number of retiring nurses and the challenge to recruit new ones.
With over three million registered nurses (RNs), and over 800,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in the United States, nursing is said to be among the nation’s fastest-growing occupations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is expected to see a growth of 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, a growth the bureau says is “much faster than the average for all occupations.”
The current outlook, though, has many worried that the supply of registered nurses won’t even be able to keep up with the demand.
Baby Boomer retirement
At the forefront of issues driving the shortage are Baby Boomers. Once spiking in births between 1946 and 1964, the baby boomer generation is again showing a significant rise in numbers of those entering retirement. Read more…