Did You Know Nursing Shortage
A nursing shortage in the United States is expected to intensify in the coming years as the aging population grows and the need for health care increases as well. Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest there will be more than 203,000 openings for registered nurses each year between 2021 and 2031. And it’s not just a shortage of RNs that the health care industry will be forced to confront. The BLS’ Occupation Outlook Handbook also projects a growing demand for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), with estimates suggesting as many as 30,200 APRN openings each year between now and 2031. Qualifications to become an APRN typically include completion of a master’s or even doctoral program, while RNs typically must complete a fouryear bachelor’s or two-year associate’s program.