Opportunity In The Scarcity: Nurse Shortage, Future Demand

(Estimated reading time: 3 minutes)

The demand for health care services is growing as years pass. In a ten-year prediction, expectation of nurse shortage in Texas could be around 60,000, and about a million within the US. The state is the second-largest in the country regarding its area and population at the same time. Indicating its scope, the necessity for human resources especially in nursing comes in great importance.

As stated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, with the population of almost four (4) million registered nurses, they cover the majority number out of all the health care professions in the US. Their jobs are time-consuming for there is the need for immense monitoring to patients. According to the president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, Chuck Stokes, unlike doctors who come and go, registered nurses (RN) are the ones who are stays at the hospitals for 24 hours a day to work.

This just intensifies the value of their efforts in service. In Texas, most of their registered nurses are baby boomers. Upon all the nurses, the 25 percent is on ages 56 and older, with the average age range of 50s. Looking at this, there could be a great need for future positions to fill in. Expectation on the retirement rate is larger with the increasing ages of the currently employed RNs. As the percentage slowly increases, it requires new batches to cover the probable loss as well. With the anticipated increase in the workforce over the years, the average growth rate will not be able to suffice enough to the expected number.

Possible opportunity in scarcity

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there is an estimation of 203,700 new RNs every year up to 2026 to cover the available positions of the retiring nurses in the entire US. Between the possible scarcity, others see this as the opportunity they could grab for a good working career. For the great demand in the RN workforce, the job search comes easy as the hospitals and clinics are the ones desperately waiting for applicants. Though the possibility for a good tomorrow is bigger, the program brings a difficult experience to the students.

The students are encountering financial problems despite institutions promoting the quality of education. Identified as one factor affecting their studies, it is the fact that some students need to work on multiple jobs. This is so they can sustain themselves and get on every day, and this causes burnout.

To continue promote the elevation of the number of workforce, schools are allocating funds for assistance. To address the issue, the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, provides the “Ready Program” for the benefit of the nursing industry. According to the university’s dean for the College of Nursing and Sciences, Dr. Bunny Forgione, the program has already given about $4.5 million for the last four years and will carry on for more years to come.

Grants are given to support the needs of the aspiring RNs of the future. Other than financial help, there are also mental and psychological relief through counseling and focused tutoring. In order to truly become a registered nurse, one must pass the NCLEX.

The examination will take lots of steps. However, with IPASS Processing, you are in good hands. Let us help you in your journey to achieve that American dream!