Nurses in Short Supply | Scientific American | January 2005
At least since the 1990s, the U.S. has faced a growing shortage of registered nurses. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in 2020 the demand for nurses could exceed the supply by 40 percent if nothing is done to stop this trend. The 20th century has seen recurrent shortages, but this one is different, in part because of an unprecedented demographic squeeze. The workforce made up of those aged 20 to 35, the prime recruiting pool for nurses, will decline at the same time baby boomers begin to reach retirement and consume medical services at a faster rate. But perhaps a more important factor is the low status of nurses. At one time, low status was far less of a deterrent, but now, when virtually all professions are open to women, nursing has become a relatively unattractive career choice. Moreover, the work is physically demanding: it is so strenuous that nurses generally cannot work much beyond their mid-50s. Indeed, the top concerns of nurses are their increasing workload and long hours.
Registered Nurses in the US
Modified from Scientific American 292:1, 32, January 2005.Age Distribution of Nurses in the US
Modified from Scientific American 292:1, 32, January 2005.
This is the reality the nurse staffing ratios has not addressed.