Hot opportunity: Nurse Shortage leads to contract jobs

By Maggie Zahm

In recent years, the American Hospital Association has announced a critical nursing shortage—the worst in 50 years. Due to a severe lack of nurse recruitment and retention, the country is facing a significant healthcare crisis. With this shortage, however, contract healthcare positions are booming.

The shortage in the United States is developing into a pressing issue. Hospitals across the country are reporting huge numbers of unfilled nursing positions. A survey by the American Hospital Association revealed that about one-fourth of all unexpected events leading to patient deaths, injury or permanent loss are due to inadequate staffing. If the nurse shortage does not improve, the supply of working registered nurses will be 20% below requirements by the year 2020.

While there are multiple factors causing the shortage of healthcare professionals, deficiency of recruitment and retention are at the forefront. The major decline in enrollment in BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) degree programs is one of the reasons for the stagnant and now regressing pool of practicing healthcare professionals. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, entry level BSN enrollment fell 2.1% in 2000, dropping for the 6th year in a row. To keep up with this decline and the amount of current nurses retiring or changing professions, enrollment would have to increase 40% annually to provide a sufficient amount of workers.

Enrollment in BSN programs is expected to decrease further as faculty shortages rise. About 75% of current faulty are expected to retire by 2019. As the bubble of baby boomers continues to age, the amount of practicing health care professionals will also continue to diminish. The ratio of RNs in their 40’s to RNs in their 20’s is 2 to 1, meaning that there are fewer nurses to replace those that are retiring or leaving the field for other reasons. Within 15 years, about half of all RNs will reach retirement age.

Although the nursing shortage is a problematic issue, it may have some benefits for contract nurses seeking employment. The shortage provides a multitude of employment opportunities for RNs looking to work in a variety of environments. The standard practice of working in a hospital is not the only aspect of the healthcare industry that is experiencing a scarcity of nurses. Contract nurses are also find work more easily in family clinics, schools, and outreach facilities. The need for temporary and contract nurses and nursing agencies will continue to grow and expand. According to an American Hospital Association survey of 1,400 hospitals, 41% used temporary or contract nurses, up from 30% in 1986. Besides being able to find work fast, contract nurses also experience other benefits. After being placed in a hospital or clinic, contract nurses have the opportunity to stay at that job if they like it or relocate elsewhere if they do not. The schedules are usually a little more flexible, and compensation is often negotiable.

Contract nurses as a response to the current shortage will continue to provide numerous jobs for healthcare professionals looking for contract positions. Flexibility, negotiable compensations and added bonuses are all further incentives to start looking for open positions, as it appears that the benefits and need for nurses will continue to grow at a rapid rate.