In 2023, the United States nursing workforce consisted of over 4 million registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. However, nursing shortages continue to be a critical problem in the healthcare industry. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently issued a report outlining the causes of the shortage and other issues in the profession.
Challenges in Meeting Demand
Although the number of registered nurses has gone up, the supply of healthcare professionals is still below demand. One of the biggest factors is the elderly U.S. population, which puts an increased burden on the healthcare segment. In addition, the average registered nurse is now older than 43, and the shortfall will only get worse as more nurses will retire soon. The report predicts a 6% shortage of RNs across the country by 2037 and a 13% shortage in the non-metro regions.
Licensed Practical Nurses are also in short supply, and these are projected to be 302, increasing to 440 full-time equivalents by 2037, which signifies an almost 36% shortage. These actions will only create some massive gaps in healthcare delivery needs that will be felt across the country. However, one of the biggest areas of concern is nurse burnout and some issues related to retention. The top issue is burnout among nurses, which has only gotten worse due to the pandemic. A July 2022 poll by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing notes that 45% of RNs and LPNs get burned out a few times a week and above.
Additional Read: Analyzing the Nursing Shortage in 2024
According to research conducted and published in 2023, 57% of nurses experienced burnout, a bit lower than in previous years yet still highly prevalent. One way to deal with burnout is to have nurses practice to the full scope of their license. This means assigning nurses tasks where they can prescriptively tend to their education and training. This includes tending to the patient’s needs and delegating other tasks to subordinate staff. This may minimize burnout and enhance organizational staff satisfaction with their work.
Alternatively, the Health Resources and Services Administration reports that more nursing graduates are entering the workforce than in most previous years, which gives hope for the future of the profession. The number of candidates sitting for the NCLEX for RNs has increased, with almost 359,000 in 2023s compared to 252311 in 2019. The number of newly licensed RNs has also risen to 250,078 in 2023 from 183,682 in 2019. Such trends indicate that this is a promising profession, although there are still shortages in the examined programs.
Dynamic Healthstaff delivers staffing services that counter the harmful effects of the nursing shortage. Our services help healthcare organizations find qualified nurses for employment, either through a travel nursing company or through employee offers. In this way, we deliver staff solutions according to a healthcare facility’s requirements and assist in easing the burden on the current workforce for the future of nursing in the United States. If you want to hire talented healthcare professionals, contact us today at enquiry@dynamichealthstaff.com or +919810017608.
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