NYCT, Jonas Center, John A. Hartford and Edna McConnell Clark Foundations Highlighted in Health Affairs
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of registered nurses (RNs) is expected to increase “16 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations [7 percent].” Nurses are in demand for several reasons, including the country’s aging population; the need to care for people with chronic conditions, such as arthritis and obesity, and educate them about their conditions; and the increased number of people with health insurance, as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
The BLS notes that the supply of new nurses entering the labor market has increased in recent years, leading to competition for jobs in some markets. However, the need to replace RNs who are retiring will create opportunities for many new nurses...