Demand Versus Supply of Registered Nurses
HCS/552
March 19, 2012
Jayme Carrico
Demand Versus Supply of Registered Nurses Demand versus supply in the United States continues to be an issue with increasing shortages of registered nurses (RN) and the increasing demand for health care services. There is a higher demand for registered nurses because of the increase in population, aging baby boomers, and increase in chronic diseases. The shortage of registered nurses impacts the health status and quality of life of the population. Factors that impact health care are the importance of supplying adequate nursing personnel and retaining RN’s in the workplace. There is a need to provide resources to educate
…show more content…
A factor that has heightened the need for more nurses is advancements in technology. New advancements in technology and information systems are changing nursing careers providing more opportunities to diversity and a need for more highly educated nurses. There are several national trends that contribute to the nursing shortage such as health insurance coverage, physicians shifting more work to the nurses, and the aging population. “These national trends will impact the need, educational preparation, and size of the nursing workforce” (Nickitas, 2012, para. 2). Population growth is another contributor from technology advancements causing increased life expectancy that result in the population to have a higher rate of people over age 65. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (2002) the national supply and demand projections are: In 2002, there was a nursing shortage of 110, 000 or six percent. The shortage is to grow relatively slowly until 2010, by which time it will have reached 12 percent. Demand will begin to exceed supply at an accelerated rate by 2015; will have quadrupled to a 20% nursing shortage. If current trends continue, the shortage is projected to grow to 29 % by 2020 (p. 2).
Supply
The factors affecting the supply of registered nurses causing the shortages are the decline in nurse graduates, aging workforce, decreased salaries, and alternative job
Current literature continues to reiterate the indicators of a major shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The total RN population has been increasing since 1980, which means that we have more RNs in this country than ever before (Nursing Shortage). Even though the RN population is increasing, it is growing at a much slower rate then when compared to the rate of growth of the U.S. population (Nursing Shortage). We are seeing less skilled nurses “at a time of an increasingly aging population with complex care
There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster
Registered nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, and make up the largest number of healthcare professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) “The employment rate for registered nurses is expected to grow by 16% between 2014 and 2024”. This is more than double the average rate of growth for a profession. The rapid growth rate can be attributed in part to better management of chronic diseases and the baby boomer generation. The growth in the nursing profession is paramount, however the demographics of the nursing population does not mirror the demographics of the population served.
The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must
An article in the Health Marketing Quarterly written by Mark Somers, Linda Finch, and Dee Birnbaum (university instructors in schools of management, nursing and business fields in the U.S.) asserts that the nursing shortages of "highly trained nurses and of nursing faculty" is close to a level that could be termed a "crisis" (Somers, et al, 2010). The expected gap between supply and demand will expand to more than a million nurses by 2020, Somers explains, which is twice the shortfall had had been projected just two years prior to this article's publication (292).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) estimates the need for 439,300 registered nurses (RN) from 2014 to 2024, equating to a 16% increase in employment opportunities (USBLS, 2015). Approximately 30% of new RNs leave their first jobs with less than a year of hire and 525,000 nurses are expected to retire from 2012 to 2022- a demand totaled to around 1 million jobs by 2022. This increase is attributed to retiring baby boomers, turnovers, healthcare reform, and the increasing aging population (Kiel, 2012; USBLS, 2013). Control over the retirement of baby boomers is unrealistic, however, nursing turnover can be regulated.
The nation has a growing concern for the shortage of skilled nurses in the United States. The growing need of qualified nursing professionals reflects the growth of the aging population. As the retirement of healthcare professionals increase the need for replacement isn’t moving at the same rate. The nursing shortage places demand on nurses to work long hours, multiple jobs and overtime, which places them at risk for nursing errors. There are many incentives that show the increasing need for nursing professional. There are many different scholarships, grants and tuition reimbursement programs being awarded to produce more nursing professionals. The nursing shortage has led to a nursing crisis in most states. In the following research I will discuss some key factors about of nursing shortage, some factors that have an impact of the shortage in the nursing profession, and some economic issues. I will discuss different legislative acts and what was concluded from my research.
While the US has more nurses and physicians than ever before, upcoming retirements and a dysfunctional workplace are creating clinical shortages that can become more severe than the industry can bear (Woods, D. 2009). According to research, half of all nurses working today were born during the baby-boomer years. Therefore, the workforce is aging at a rapid rate. As such, in efforts to prevent a mass exodus from the profession, healthcare organizations leaders are exploring innovative ways to keep experienced nurses (Larson, J, 2009). The average age of registered nurses has risen from 41 in 2002 to 48 in 2006(Bolton-Burnes L. 2007). Even more troubling, in 2006, 45% of hospital-employed RNs
In 1960, Virginia Avenel Henderson a nurse and a theorist in the same time, defined nursing, “the unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. And to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible”. It is a noble function and to be fulfilled at the highest levels, it takes time, patience and the devotion. When the number of people given this care is much lower than that of people who must receive the care, then a crisis occurs. The phenomenon is acute not only in America but all around the world. Even if the nursing is considered a meaningful work, the country is facing a nursing shortage that grows more with each passing year. Nursing shortages in America affect all parts of the health care delivery system.
There are many issues that affect the profession of nursing, for decades one issue that affects the nursing profession is the nursing shortage in the United States (U.S.). Even though the nursing shortage in the U.S. remains during the Great Recession of 2007 many older nurses did not retire as one normally would have while other nurses came out of retirement to help support their families (Snavely, 2016). According to Juraschek, Zhang, Ranganathan, and Lin (2012), starting in 2003 the age group of forty-five to fifty-four replaced the age group of thirty-five to forty-four as having the largest number of working registered nurses. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) states the number of jobs available for registered nurses (RNs) is expected to grow by sixteen percent by the year 2024, which equals 439,300 RN positions in the United States. However, some regions of the United States are going to be affected more by the increase in need for RNs leading to a nursing shortage in these regions of the U.S. Moreover, the nursing shortage is going to have a negative impact on patient care, nurse satisfaction, and health care cost which further exacerbating the nursing shortage (Snavely,2016). Factors contributing to a nursing shortage in regions across the U.S. are :1) aging nurses retiring as the recession ends, 2) nurses who re-entered the workforce due to the recession are leaving the profession or returning to working part-time, 3) the aging baby boomer
According to the “United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast” published in the January 2012 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality, a shortage of registered nurses is projected to spread across the
This article is written by Timothy M. Snavely and is based on the information he gathered about the shortage of nurses in the United States. The article mentions that if America wants to remain on top of the medical field throughout the world it needs highly trained and qualified nurses. This article focuses on the scientific proof that examine the relevant economic issues surrounding the present and future of the nursing workforce through supply and demand.
The U.S. healthcare system is no stranger to nursing shortages. In very simple terms, this type of shortage happens when a lack of skilled nurses negatively impacts individual patient care; shortage occurrences can transpire at a local, national or international level. It is a recurring problem we have been faced with for the past five decades. However, what we will be up against between now and 2025 is a predicament of far greater proportion than ever encountered before. “Considering the impacts this prolonged shortage will have on the U.S. healthcare system, nursing and other health-related organizations have even brought their concerns to lawmakers in the central government for immediate consideration” (Janiszewski Goodin 335). This quote
It is likely that most people have heard about the nursing shortage for years now, and perhaps they believe it’s been fixed. However, the nursing profession is experiencing a reoccurring deficiency. According to Brian Hansen, (2002), there was a nation wide shortage in 2001 of 126,000 full-time registered nurses, but the shortage will surge to 808,000 by 2020 if something isn't done. This pattern is a persisting cycle of high vacancies followed by layoffs and a high over supply of registered nurses. Various factors contribute to the lack of nurses within the health care facilities, but today’s shortages are a little different. Many feel that this scarcity is severe and long-drawn-out. The four major issues contributing to
According to Paller (2012), the nursing shortage in different countries for example the United States tends not to be the only growing problem, but has also become a complex one. Nursing shortage and nurse's turnover has become the worsening predicament in the health care industry in the United