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Why the U.S. Nursing Shortage is Good for You

September 21, 2007

The U.S. is currently experiencing an alarming shortage of qualified nurses. Projections indicate that our aging population's demand for healthcare is growing at a rate that outstrips the capabilities of the current nursing sector. Experts fear that if we do not recruit more qualified nurses into the field, the number of registered nurses may soon be the limiting factor for public access to health care.

Nursing Now

What does this mean for students entering the nursing field? Healthcare professionals with nursing degrees will find more demand for their services than nearly any other career. The median salary for a registered nurse was around $48,000 a year in 2004. As we see demand for nurses grow, salaries will also rise accordingly. Nursing school graduates should enjoy high earnings, excellent benefits, and a variety of other work incentives.

Train to Be a Nurse

Students looking for a rewarding career where they can make a difference in the lives of individuals will be wise to pursue education in nursing. Vocational and practical nursing programs offer hands-on experience in the nursing field while you're on the way to nursing certification or a degree. Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are the most attractive for the majority of employers in the nursing field. BSN programs typically take four years to complete. They allow nurses to specialize in a field of their choice and, in many cases, get the best jobs.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration recently predicted that if we want to meet future demand for nurses, U.S. nursing schools will have to award degrees to 90 percent more graduates over the next few years. Many nursing schools are reacting to these alarming statistics with increased funding and incentives for students. Now more than ever, a degree in nursing can be your ticket to a productive and fulfilling career.

Sources

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice
• American Nurses Association

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