Nursing a shortage
Vacancies dip, but lack of instructors adds to woes

"...experts are predicting shortfalls could grow to 800,000 (nurses) over the next 15 years...The national nurse vacancy rate was 13.9% in 2003, according to a first-time survey of 151 healthcare recruiters by Bernard Hodes Group. And nursing shortfalls are projected to soar as fewer nurses are expected to fill the spots left by aging retirees...With the median age for full-time nurse faculty at 52 in 2003, and the average age of retirement at 62, nursing schools could see a surge in retirements during the next decade, according to the association (AACN)...The Bernard Hodes survey reported a 15.5% turnover rate for registered nurses, the highest among healthcare job categories surveyed."

Source: Modern Healthcare, September 6, 2004, p. 14.