Want To Become A Nurse? – The Current Shortage Of Nurses – What Are The Real Numbers?

All jobs and industries have an ebb and flow between over and underemployment, but when it comes to a potential nursing shortage, people pay much more attention. That’s because having qualified nurses in the right situations can make the difference between life and death for a huge number of individuals in a variety of different circumstances. Many people have been whispering about a looming nursing shortage right now, so it’s important to take a look at the facts.

First it’s time for a few powerful statistics. The first is from the BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it shows that the nursing shortage at the end of the decade will be nearly in the seven figures. They project 800,000 unfilled nursing positions. A corresponding statistic shows a need for 600,000 new RNs to join the industry by 2018. Both figures are powerful and shed some light on the situation.

So the first answer has to be that yes, the nursing shortage is real and it’s something that needs to be taken seriously. But where did it come from? For one thing, nurses outnumber physicians in hospitals at about a 41 ratio, which shows how much of the day-to-day tasks they take on, perform and manage. Still, almost 40% of nurses now work outside of hospitals, showing their needs elsewhere. It’s a ton of demand on the profession and it has spread nurses out a bit too thin.

Another factor to add into the mix is that nurses are becoming older than they were generations ago. The average age of nurses is now 47, versus just 40 about two decades ago. This figure means that more nurses are nearing retirement and leaving the workplace, which helps to create that need for replacement and new RNs to join the fold.

Still, another reason is that the demand for nurses is going to increase even more in the coming years. The baby boomers are becoming senior citizens, and there will be more need for care at all levels, adding another layer of complexity to the nursing shortage that has been brewing for some time now.

But for students, a nursing shortage is less a problem and more an opportunity. You can grab an accelerated BSN in two years or less, and end up entering a field where there are more job vacancies than you could imagine. Salaries are also increasing, and nursing has plenty of other intrinsic benefits as well.

Prospective students looking to get started should be pursuing a BSN degree so they can enter the workforce as fully qualified nurses, holding a respected education. With an online nursing degree course, programs can be finished in less than a year, and more RNs are pursuing this option. At least 50% of RNs have a BSN or higher today, up from 25% three decades ago, with additional increases expected.

The nursing shortage is only in the very beginning of its stages, but looking at the stats, it can get very large in a very short amount of time. Students can join the ranks of the in demand, qualified nurses, by pursuing an accelerated BSN and finishing in 12 months or less. There will be hundreds of thousands of jobs, rewarding, exciting careers and much more waiting for you at the finish line.

Earning a BSN Degree is now possible in 12 months. A great opportunity for anyone looking to switch jobs and build a career in nursing. Accelerated Nursing Degree Programs Its a fact, college educated people earn significantly more than those without a degree.