Many of the healthcare heroes highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic emphasized the urgent need for more registered nurses (RN) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) — and the projected figures and data in the nursing field further prove their point.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for registered nurses will grow nine percent from 2020 to 2030, accounting for 194,500 openings each year over the decade. APRN professions are also expected to progress rapidly — with an estimated growth of 45% from 2020 to 2030, creating 29,400 available jobs per year.
With such compelling job growth, many are currently questioning, “why are nurses in such high demand?” and in this article we explore four factors that contribute to America’s need for nurses right now.
1. An aging baby boomer population
Between 1946 and 1964, the baby boomer generation was born, and in 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that by 2030 residents aged 65 and older are likely to total 82 million. In addition, as baby boomers’ requirements for geriatric healthcare expand with age, so will the demand for efficient nurses.
2. The Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), legislated in 2010, increased health insurance access for previously uninsured U.S. residents and applied modifications to the health insurance market. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that uninsured rates were successfully reduced in every state since the ACA was implemented. Consequently, more nurses are needed to provide quality patient-centered care when more residents seek medical attention.
3. Nursing faculty falling behind
An article from the U.S. National Library of Medicine detailed that the present-day nursing faculty shortage can cause some instructors to teach cohorts with fewer resources. With limited capacity, student enrollment can become restricted for some institutions, and the number of nurses graduating with their degrees can ultimately decline.
Furthermore, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) confirmed that in 2019, U.S. nursing schools turned away 80,407 applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs due to insufficient nursing faculty and clinical instructors, among other factors.
4. Experienced nurses exiting the workforce
In 2017, a health affairs blog projected that one million registered nurses will leave the workforce by 2030, taking their knowledge, clinical skills, and years of valuable experience with them.
Ready to retire
Recent surveys of registered nurses from the Health Resources & Services Administration established that the median age for an RN is 50, signifying one-third of professionals could be leaving the field within the next 15 years.
Burnout by the bedside
The ongoing insufficient healthcare staffing and patient ratio issues have also led to decreased job satisfaction and increased stress levels for many registered nurses, causing nursing professionals to leave their careers, even years before the Covid-19 pandemic.
In fact, in 2022, the turnover rate for nursing professionals varied by location and specialty, but overall ranged from 8.8% to 37% nationally.
Solutions to the nursing shortage
Moving forward, nursing organizations, policymakers, schools, and the media must collaborate, leverage resources, shape legislation, and strategize to address the nursing shortage.
A U.S. National Library of Medicine report also indicated that nurse supervisors should provide registered nurses of all ages with consistent, high-quality leadership, plentiful opportunities for career development, and strong social support for stressors in the workplace. The same publication concluded that solutions could be found by improving retention, encouraging educators, and attracting new nurses into the healthcare field.
Experts also project that new virtual simulations and technology could transform nursing schools — instructing students on tech-savvy skills to navigate electronic health records, chart patient care, and maintain medical devices. The study also projected an increase in online education, nursing bridge programs, and a demand for healthcare workers with higher education degrees.
The high demand and urgent need for nurses is all too clear. With an advancing baby boomer population, the Affordable Care Act expanding access to medical services, clinical and faculty employment numbers low, and proficient nurses leaving their posts to retire, the call for more healthcare professionals to enter the medical field is a ringing reality.
But if the career call to become a registered nurse is answered with resilience, life as a nursing professional can be nothing short of a rewarding career. By unifying an education in nursing with clinical experience, it’s possible to make a daily difference doing what you love.
Are you thinking about a career administering patient-centered care?
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Related
FAQs
The reasons why nurses are in high demand are because of an aging population, an aging workforce, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has worsened the nursing shortage. Nurse specialties and nurses with advanced degrees are also in high demand due to the nursing shortage.
Why is the demand for nursing so high? ›
The reasons why nurses are in high demand are because of an aging population, an aging workforce, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has worsened the nursing shortage. Nurse specialties and nurses with advanced degrees are also in high demand due to the nursing shortage.
Why is there a high demand for registered nurses? ›
Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people. Registered nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
What is the highest demand for nurses? ›
Which states have the highest need for nurses?
- California (274,650)
- Texas (207,810)
- New York (180,730)
- Florida (174,710)
- Pennsylvania (139,480)
Nurses and their employers are faced with substantial challenges. Nurses have been found to experience considerable strain at work that is related to high workloads, emotional demands, shift work, or understaffing, while healthcare organizations are struggling to attract and retain qualified staff.
How demanding is being a nurse? ›
Nurses often work long, rigorous shifts – with typical shorts ranging from eight, ten, twelve, or even sixteen hours or more up to seven days a week. Nurses may also be required to work on holidays and birthdays and be on call if an emergency or crisis arises.
Is nursing always in demand? ›
Nurses are always in demand. The most sought-after and lucrative career across the globe. In the United States, qualified nurses are required for diverse roles.
Will the demand for nurses increase? ›
In the United States the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the demand for RN's will grow on average 6% per year between 2022 and 2032. That's about 193,000 openings per year. Is 2022 a good time to enter the nursing profession?
Where will nursing be in 10 years? ›
Looking to the future, the size of the FTE RN workforce is projected to grow substantially, from 3.35 million in 2018 to 4.54 million in 2030, enough to replace all the baby boom RNs who will retire over the decade.
Are nurses underpaid? ›
Wage Gap. In 2021, the national average salary of full-time registered nurses was $77 600 per year, or about $38 per hour. In 2023, the national average salary for travel nurses is $88 320, or about $51 per hour.
The BLS projects 6% job growth for all RNs between 2021 and 2031, compared to 5% job growth for all occupations. Some specialties that are in especially high demand are neonatal nursing, surgical nursing, and critical care nursing.
What's the highest paid nurse? ›
According to Medscape's 2022 APRN Compensation Report, CRNAs earn, on average, $217,000 annually, making this specialty the highest-paid nursing job.
What is the lowest-paid RN specialty? ›
School Nurse - $65,048
However, school nursing is also one of the lowest-paid nursing specialties. ZipRecruiter reports that the median annual salary for school nurses in the US is $65,048. However, this range also ranges widely -from as low as $36,000 to as much as $90,000 per year.
Why is nurse the hardest job? ›
These professionals are constantly engaging with patients suffering from acute mental disease, and are frequently at risk of patients lashing out both physically and emotionally. According to, almost all nurses (88.6%) have experienced verbal violence and more than half (56.1%) have experienced physical violence.
Is nursing a very challenging and demanding career? ›
Nursing is one of the most rewarding and challenging professions in health care. During a 12-hour shift, nurses may take on a demanding workload due to staffing shortages; endure workplace bullying; risk exposure to infection; and, despite all their professional experience, still lose patients.
Is nursing in high demand right now? ›
While the average growth rate for all occupations is 5%, the job outlook for nursing is 6% between 2021 and 2031. Each year, through 2031, will see approximately 203,000 jobs for RNs. Increasing the nurse workforce is necessary throughout the US.
Why is there a nursing shortage in the US? ›
The population is surviving longer, as a whole, causing an increased use of health services as well. Many disease processes that were once terminal are now survivable for the long term. Treating these long-term illnesses can strain the workforce. Like the populations they serve, the nursing workforce is also aging.
Why is the nursing shortage so bad? ›
Workplace Nursing Shortage
The problem, in this age of the industrialized and massively consolidated medicine enterprises, is that so many hospitals have created seriously understaffed, high-stress working environments that large numbers of nurses simply refuse to work in.
Why is nursing so popular in us? ›
1. You'll get competitive benefits, salary, and security. The demand for nurses is high across the country, making it a promising choice for you and your loved ones. Healthcare facilities and hospitals actively seek qualified nurses to join their teams, and they offer generous compensation packages.
