The shortage of nurses is a persistent problem as far as the U.S is concerned.
The lack of sufficient qualified nurses has been a limiting factor for the medical world since 2012 across the U.S. Almost after a decade, the country continues to face the issue, which experts believe may last at least until 2030 based on the current scenario.
Specifically, the nation is expected to face a shortage of over a million new nurses by 2030. Such a scenario is alarming enough. However, this is just the number of new roles. Industry observers hint at a more complex strategy.
READ MORE: The BCI (Brain Computer Interface) Sector of Medical Science Is Buzzing with Activities
According to BLS, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, until 2029, there will be a total of around 175 900 openings for RNs every year.
Although the lack of nursing staff is prevalent throughout the nation, it is more intense in some places, especially the western and southern areas. Here is the list of places where the problem is more likely to occur by 2030.
- California
- Texas
- New Jersey
- South Carolina
- Alaska
- Georgia, and
- South Dakota
READ MORE: Monkey Pox Now A Public Emergency, Says Biden Administration
What Caused the Shortage?
The causes that led to such a considerable shortage are many.
Growing Population of Older Adults
The most crucial cause is the growing population of older adults. There will be around 71 million Americans of age 65 or beyond by 2030.
As age-related complications lead to more hospitalization or expert health care cases, the country finds it tough to ensure a sufficient patient-nurse ratio.
Recent Alterations to the Healthcare System
There have been some recent changes in the form of reforms to the U.S healthcare system. The immediate consequence of these changes is that the healthcare system has become more accessible.
To explain, consider the enhanced availability of insurance under the ‘Affordable Care Act. Under this Act, medical insurance was made more accessible and available. Now that more Americans have access to insurance, they can afford more medical facilities that initially they couldn’t.
Impending Retirement
In a few years, many experienced nurses will be nearing retirement age, leading to a sudden and massive gap in the availability of professional nurses.
Further, several reports confirm that many nurses quit their profession as the job had become overly strenuous and draining, especially during and after the corona virus pandemic.