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The editors at Best BSN Programs decided to research the topic of
High Demand vs. Low Demand Nursing
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the US will need over a half million more nurses by 2018. But where is this need? Are some nursing specialties in greater demand than others?
What's Driving the Need for Nurses?
- Baby boomers are aging
- More nurses retiring than coming into the field
- About 44.7% of the RN workforce is over 50, so this trend will continue
- Nurses in their 50s are soon expected to become the largest segment of the nursing workforce, or nearly 1 in 4 RNs
- Aging population also needs more nursing attention
- 2010 - 2030: The ratio of potential caregivers to the elderly will decrease 40%
- Many believe the Affordable Care Act will further increase demand for health services
- The nurse population must grow proportionally to the elderly population to avoid diminished health care access
Areas of High Nursing Demand Today
Surgical Services
- 6: number of patients for which each surgical nurse is responsible, depending on the ward
- Intensive Care and High-Dependency units may have 1-2 nurses for each patient
- BSN preferred
- State Licensure and Associate's degree minimum
- 1 year experience minimum
- Salary Range: $65,000-$80,000/year
Critical Care
- Responds to life-threatening emergencies for acutely or critically ill patients and their families
- BSN preferred
- National licensing and ADN minimum
- Certification not necessary, but many nurses choose get certified
- Median Salary: $66,329
Director of Nursing Long Term Care
- Leadership and management in resident care and quality of life, human resources, finance, physical environment and atmosphere
- Bachelors or masters degree preferred
- Median Salary: $123,198
Nurse Educators
- Teach in on-the-job hospital training or nursing program classrooms
- Masters degree typically required
- Median Salary: $68,865
Clinical Informatics Coordinator
- Implementation and utilization of information systems for patient care initiatives
- Evaluates applications/vendors and provides technical training/support to end users
- Specialty-related bachelors degree preferred
- 3+ years experience typically required
- RN certification required
- Median Salary: $74,480
'With President Obama's overhaul of the health care system on the horizon, nurses trained in health information and technology and other highly specialized segments will be needed and in high demand.'
High Demand Areas
Rural Areas
- In one case, a rural nursing specialist position remained open for 800 days before closing - unfilled
- Many nursing grads in rural areas choose to work in larger communities, depriving rural areas of much-needed nurses
New Jersey
- The 111,440 licensed RNs in NJ are 17% fewer nurses than the state needs
- Workforce projections for New Jersey still show a shortfall of at least 40,000 nurses by 2020
- 53% of direct care nurses report there are not enough nurses on staff in their institution to provide quality patient care
- 10.5% vacancy rate for nurse faculty in New Jersey
Low Demand Areas
Metropolitan Regions
- Because of nurses' desire for larger facilities and communities, there is an influx of nurses in metropolitan regions
- This means fewer job openings and longer wait times for employment
- Experience, especially in a specialty, is basically required to find work in these regions
- Many jobs are part-time
296,900 healthcare jobs were added in 2011, and the RN workforce will experience the most growth of any occupation through 2020 - in the midst of a shortage.
What will you do to help?
