A Career In Nursing – Shortage Of Nurses Is Getting Worse
The phrase “nursing shortage” has been on the tongues of industry insiders for a very long time now. It’s something that seems daunting and scary, because too few nurses means limited healthcare and potential dangers for the whole of our society. But before panic or despair sets in, it’s worthwhile to take a closer look at the potential nursing shortage and what it means.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, is the authority when it comes to job growth, demand for employment, salaries and more. The current projections they have out there is that by 2020 there will be some 800,000 nursing jobs unfulfilled. Another projection shows that there is a need for 580,000 new RNs in the field by 2018. Either way, those definitely speak volumes to a potentially serious nursing shortage.
But it’s not enough to see the raw numbers, it’s also crucial that you understand where this nursing shortage is coming from. One of the most important factors is the growing demand for, and reliance on, nurses in the healthcare industry. A surprising figure of almost 40% of nurses work outside of hospitals today, and within hospitals, they outnumber doctors at a 4 to 1 rate, which is huge.
The average age of the qualified nurses in the field can also help to explain the looming nursing shortage. The average age is 47 years old, up from 40 years old a few decades ago. This means that more nurses are getting ready to retire, which opens up many jobs and positions, and there is not enough younger people embarking on the career at an entry level.
Still, another reason is that the demand for nurses is going to increase even more in the coming years. The baby boomers are becoming senior citizens, and there will be more need for care at all levels, adding another layer of complexity to the nursing shortage that has been brewing for some time now.
But for students, a nursing shortage is less a problem and more an opportunity. You can grab an accelerated BSN in two years or less, and end up entering a field where there are more job vacancies than you could imagine. Salaries are also increasing, and nursing has plenty of other intrinsic benefits as well.
An online nursing degree course is the real ticket for success too, since 50% of RNs today have at least a BSN, which is up from just 25% a few decades prior. That means a premium is being placed on educated nurses, and an accelerated BSN is the best and the quickest way to move ahead with your career.
So there certainly is a legitimate nursing shortage in the works. That doesn’t mean it’s time to panic, but hopefully more students and prospective professionals take notice and begin entering the field. If they do, and they choose to obtain an accelerated BSN, then they could enter the workforce in as little as a year.
Learn at your own pace, at times that suit you. Increasing your level of education can improve your life. Accelerated Nursing Be smart, you have to take a look at this.