The number of licensed registered nurses (RNs) grew nationwide by nearly 154,000 to an all-time high of 3.1 million from 2004 and 2008. So says a report by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
For the first time in over three decades, younger nurses grew, adding to the population of RNs. Nearly 445,000 RNs earned their U.S. license from 2004 through 2008. On the other hand, over 291,000 RNs allowed their licenses to expire, signaling a wave of retirements that may foreshadow a nursing shortage in the years to come.
The lion's share of RNs earned an Associate Degree in nursing (AD), followed by Bachelor's or graduate degreed nurses who accounted for just over a third of the RN population. The remaining one-fifth of nurses began their education in hospital-based diploma programs. Less than half of Masters Degreed nurses are employed in hospitals. Nearly one-fifth work in ambulatory care settings and about 12 percent work in the education field.
In December 2009, analysts with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that 581,500 new RN positions will be created through 2018. Compared to all other professions, jobs for RNs are expected to grow much faster than the average.
In July 2010, the flailing economy lessened the immediate demand for nursing in many parts of the country. Analysts caution that this trend may be only temporary and note that the projected demand for nursing services may once again rise. So regardless of what you've heard, the demand for skilled nurses will continue to rise, especially as the economy improves.
For an additional perspective, check out this video:
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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