Enrollment Climbs, But Shortage Still Exists

"The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington, D.C., says the number of entry-level students at the nation's baccalaureate programs rose 15.9 percent in the fall of 2003. The rise follows an 8.1 percent increase in 2002, and a 3.7 percent increase in 2001; however, studies show an increase of 40 percent annually will be required to offset the number of nurses expected to leave the profession during the next 10 years."

Source: Materials Management in Health Care, January 2004, p. 12.