Shortage Means Bright Future for Nursing School Grads

While many college students worry about whether they'll be able to find a good job after graduation, nursing students have no such worries. Benefiting from the worst nursing shortage in recent history, nursing school grads are virtually assured almost any job they want. Even better, job opportunities are only expected to increase in the next decade, when almost 40% of the current nurse workforce begins retiring. Current projections estimate that there will be a shortage of 500,000 nurses by 2005.

The scarcity of nurses also means scholarship opportunities are increasing-as well as nursing salaries and bonuses. However, money alone will not solve the shortage. "The job demands in nursing are a deterrent, and the mandated overtime and inflexible work schedules are a problem," says Andrea Mengel, who leads the nursing department at the Community College of Philadelphia. To that end, many states are enacting legislation that would limit or eliminate mandatory overtime, and many hospitals are offering more flexible work schedules. In addition, schools and hospitals are highlighting the diversity of career options now available to nurses.

Another positive effect of the increased salaries and job opportunities are that more men are beginning to enter the nursing profession, which has traditionally been dominated by women. The overall percentage of male RNs increased from 4.9% in 1996 to 5.4% and 2000.

From "Nursing Grads' Future Is Bright Because of a Growing Shortage," by Margaret O. Kirk in the April 29, 2001 Philadelphia Inquirer.