Liz O'Connor, 24, of Brandon, Fla., has always enjoyed helping others. So when Liz reached college age, it seemed only natural that she would pursue a career as a registered nurse.
It's an excellent choice on her part, because nurses are in great demand and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the United States has an acute shortage of nurses that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and require more health care.
The latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that more than 1.2 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2014. The numbers are high, in part, because many nurses in the workforce are approaching retirement. In fact, a recent survey indicates that 55 percent of nurses working today intend to retire between 2011 and 2020.
Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are struggling to expand enrollment levels. According to AACN's report on 2005-2006 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away 41,683 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing in 2005 due to budget constraints, and an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites and classrooms.
Affordable Dental Care
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
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