Focus On Nursing: A High Demand, High Growth Job of the Future
If you’re looking for a job in the future, then nursing is one of the strongest candidates out there. Although some aspects of the role may be susceptible to automation—in Japan scientists have developed a robot that can hand out medication and collect records—the central importance of empathy and advanced motor skills to nursing jobs makes it highly unlikely that machines will be replacing humans at our bedsides any time soon.
But that’s not all: According to the 2014 U.S. Census Bureau report, by 2050, the number of U.S. residents aged 65 and over is projected to be 83.7 million. As the population ages, there will be ever greater demand for healthcare professionals of all stripes, including nurses. And unlike many other fast-growing “jobs of the future,” the doors of a nursing career are open to those without a college degree.
But there’s a flip side, one that’s all too familiar to employers. As demand for nurses rises, the supply of qualified candidates does not always keep up, with the result that the U.S. faces a nursing shortage. So what is to be done? To get a deeper insight into the situation, we spoke with Dr. Joyce Knestrick, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and an Associate Professor of Nursing at Georgetown University.
Although it’s a convenient shorthand to talk about “nursing,” the reality is that this is a rich and diverse field.
“That’s one thing I love about the nursing role—that there are so many different opportunities,” says Dr. Knestrick. “I think younger people aren’t necessarily aware of all of the opportunities within the field,” she adds.
Thus, while demand is high for registered nurse (RN) roles (projected to see an impressive 16% growth through 2024, according to the BLS) there are many possible specializations.
For instance, Dr. Knestrick cites roles in management, nursing administration and nurse practitioner roles (these are nurses with an advanced degree who combine clinical diagnostic and treatment expertise with an emphasis on illness prevention). Then there are pediatric, neonatal, psychiatric, mental specialists and women’s health nurse practitioners.
And this is not to mention the nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives or people working in nursing informatics, who combine health science, computer science and IT skills to manage large amounts of patient care data. The possibilities—if not quite endless—are wide and varied.
“There’s a lot of room for advancement in the advanced practice roles, but I think even for the bedside nurses, there are opportunities. There are so many varieties that people can really find their niche in nursing as a career,” says Dr. Knestrick, who points to her own background as an example.
She started her career practicing for a long-term nursing care facility with a primarily geriatric population. Then she worked in a large tertiary care hospital on a medical-surgical unit, followed by a stint in critical care, before going on to become a nurse manager in pediatric and medical-surgical units, and then teaching in a diploma school of nursing. She has now been a nurse practitioner for 25 years.
Exploring the nursing shortage
Yet although nursing is a high demand, “future proof” field with lots of room for professional growth, the shortage remains a serious issue at present— and is likely to remain so in the future. Says Dr. Knestrick: “According to most of the information I’ve seen about registered nurses, I believe that we’re still going to see a shortage.”
And of course, a shortage of RNs will later translate into a shortage of nurses with more advanced qualifications.
A big part of the problem is that while the aging population may be creating opportunities for healthcare professionals, today’s nursing workforce is also aging.
“The average age of a nurse is around 50,” says Dr. Knestrick. “It’s estimated that over 50% of nurses that are practicing are over the age of 50. This means that within 10 to 20 years they will be retiring from nursing, which will further add to the shortage.”
In fact, the Health Resources and Services Administration predicts more than one million registered nurses will reach retirement age within the next 10 to 15 years, leaving a significant number of jobs to be filled.
This represents not just nurses needing to be replaced, but also a significant loss of knowledge and expertise. As a result, not only do hospitals need to find lots of new nurses, but they need to facilitate the transfer of invaluable nursing wisdom before it is lost.
But here’s another problem: there is also a shortage of nursing teachers to prepare the next generation.
“In some cases, schools have turned down nursing applicants mostly because of the faculty shortage,” says Dr. Knestrick.
What is to be done?
In some states, there are already strategies in place to address the shortage of nurse educators. For instance, the Nurses for Wisconsin initiative provides fellowships and loan forgiveness for future nurse faculty who agree to teach in the state after graduation.
Meanwhile, some nursing schools have formed strategic partnerships to help boost student capacity. For instance, the University of Minnesota has partnered with the Minnesota VA Health Care System to expand enrollment in the schools’ Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program.
These programs could help with the teaching shortage. But what can employers do?
1) Stress the purpose and potential of a nursing career
In an age when many people are seeking meaningful work, one strategy for attracting new talent is to highlight the social value of nursing and the wide variety of available career paths to candidates.
“They should know that nursing is a wonderful profession,” says Dr. Knestrick, “that there are plenty of opportunities. There will always be sick people and they are always going to need somebody to provide care for them.”
2) Don’t overload nurses
Hospitals seeking cost efficiencies may be tempted to increase the workload on nurses—but this increases the risk of burnout and can make the existing talent shortage worse, says Dr. Knestrick.
A European study of acute care hospitals found that a greater proportion of professional nurses at the bedside is associated with better outcomes for both patients and nurses—thus reducing the risk of staff turnover. So it’s vital to look closely at staffing patterns, and staff accordingly.
3) Talent may be available in other areas
Another option is to recruit nurses from different parts of the country, as demand varies according to geographic areas, says Dr. Knestrick.
Some estimates even project nursing surpluses in some Midwestern states such as Illinois and Minnesota, while states such as California and Colorado will see nursing shortages.
With the correct incentives, it may be possible to target nurses in areas with greater supply and recruit them to areas where demand is more difficult to meet.
4) Make it easier for nurses to acquire—and practice—advanced skills
Employers needing nurses with more advanced qualifications could help provide programs to help them get the masters or doctoral level qualifications needed to become nurse practitioners, says Dr. Knestrick. But there’s another important step, too. Currently, many states place limitations even on nurses with very advanced skills, forbidding them to practice without another healthcare professional in place, thus limiting the extent of the care they can provide their patients.
Many of these rules were written decades ago, says Dr. Knestrick, and don’t reflect current conditions. She recommends that employers “support changes in nurse practice act to remove barriers for nurses, particularly nurse practitioners, to practice to the full extent of their license and their education is essential.”
Of course, enacting these steps and won’t end the nurse shortage immediately, but they are good steps towards ensuring that we don’t run short of these important professionals.
Content courtesy of Indeed
Learn more:
New Classes Start Today!
March classes start today! Welcome to our new BSN, PN and RN-BSN students.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Alex – Sumner College Graduate
Alex, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Alexandra – Sumner College RN to BSN Graduate
Alexandra, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Renee – Sumner College Graduate
Renee, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Serena – Sumner College Graduate
Serena congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Amanda – Sumner College Graduate
Amanda, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Natalie – Sumner College Graduate
Natalie, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Now Hiring
Are you a healthcare educator? Sumner College is looking for our next Nursing Educator to join our team. This is a part time position. Read…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Erin – Sumner College Graduate
Erin, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Exploring the Vital Role of Nurses in Heart Health
Article Shared from DiversityNursing.com February is American Heart Month. It's important to promote cardiovascular health and explore the many ways Nurses are engaged in these…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet Anne Marie – Sumner College Graduate
Anne Marie, congratulations on your graduation! As you've embarked on your nursing journey, remember: 'Nursing is not just a profession, it's a calling to serve,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing Ranked Most Trusted Profession for 22nd Year
Article Shared from DiversityNursing.com In Gallup's 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll, Americans' evaluations of almost all 23 professions have experienced a decline compared to previous years.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Helpful Apps Every Nurse Should Have
Article shared from DiversityNursing.com Mobile apps have transformed how Nurses provide care to their patients. Smartphones allow Nurses easy access to applications designed to assist…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
DiversityNursing.com – Helpful Resources
Helpful Resources DiversityNursing.com is a Career Job Board, Community and Information Resource for all Nurses regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion, education, national origin,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How to Prepare for College – Oregon Goes to School
Article shared from Oregon Goes to College It’s a plan! No matter what grade you’re in, you can get ready for your future. Getting ready…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Clinical Partners
Sumner College clinical partnerships play a crucial role in advancing medical education and training. By offering opportunities for hands-on experience and mentorship, these collaborations help…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Commencement Ceremony
Save the date - April 6, 2024 for Sumner College's Commencement Ceremony. Celebrating cohorts: PN54, PN55, ADN23, RN-BSN10 and RN-BSN11 Congratulations to you all!! Tickets…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Healthcare Hero
Are you aspiring to be a healthcare hero? A common question from our nursing students at Sumner College is about the role of ER nurses…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Dynamic – Interactive – Rich with Real-world Relevance
RNs are you ready to take your nursing career to the next level with a BSN? Guess what - at Sumner College, you can achieve…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
ER Nursing
Have you been thinking, “How can I start my nursing career in an ER?" Begin by obtaining a solid understanding of nursing through an approved…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
LPN
At Sumner College, we understand the importance of every role in the nursing field, including the dedicated work of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPNs are…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Flexible – Balanced – Online RN to BSN
Wondering what it's like to pursue a nursing degree online? At Sumner College, our RN to BSN program fits the busy lives of working nurses…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing, beyond direct patient care
Thinking about a career in nursing but interested in roles beyond direct patient care? At Sumner College, we recognize that nursing offers diverse career paths,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Jobs in 2031 will likely require postsecondary education
Degrees and credentials after high school will become increasingly important in the job market, a new report found. Analysis from the Georgetown University Center on…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Evolving Healthcare Landscape for Job Opportunities
As we enter 2024, the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, bringing exciting job opportunities for Practical Nurses. Nurses are able to work in different environments…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RNs, what is your next step in advancing your career in nursing?
Are you a Registered Nurse wondering what the next step is in your career? Explore why pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Is Practical Nursing a Career for You?
As a Practical Nurse, you can choose when and where you work. This career path offers an opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance. At…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Why Choose Sumner College for your Nursing Education?
Why Sumner College? Our BSN Program is designed to be completed in 32 months No prerequisites required to apply Small class sizes foster exceptional learning…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Is a BSN required to work in hospitals?
Aspiring nurses often ask, "Is a BSN required to work in hospitals?" There are hospitals and healthcare settings that prefer this licensure because it demonstrates…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Dream More in 2024! – Welcome New Sumner College Nursing Students
The Future is HERE! Welcome, 2024! Dream BIGGER, Reach HIGHER! Sumner College - Dream More in 2024! Our nursing classes enroll every ten weeks. Welcome…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn