Shortage projected to increase during next twenty years - Brief Article

AORN Journal,  Sept, 2002  

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Trends indicate that the US nursing shortage will continue to worsen during the next two decades, according to a report from the US Department of Health and Human Services. In 2000, the estimated demand for full-time RNs was two million while the estimated supply was 1.89 million, a 6% shortage. Based on supply trend data from the 2000 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the shortage is projected to reach 12% by 2010, 20% by 2015, and 29% by 2020.

Factors contributing to the nursing shortage include a decline in the number of nursing school graduates across all degree programs, the aging RN workforce, a decline in relative earnings (ie, actual earning adjusted for inflation), and the emergence of alternative career opportunities for nurses. Currently, nearly 500,000 licensed RNs are not employed in the nursing profession, according to the report.

Factors adding to the growing demand for nurses include a projected 18% increase in population (ie, 50 million people) between 2000 and 2020 and an increase in the older adult population, which uses health care services disproportionately. Medical advances that increase life expectancy also add to the growing demand.

Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortages of Registered Nurses: 2000-2020, (Washington, DC: US Deportment of Health and Human Services, July 2002).

COPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group