In 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ released an Employment Projections report for 2014-2024. In the report, they projected a 16% increase in RN jobs from 2014 to 2024. But with that growth, also comes a greater shortage since the number of Americans in need of care also increases every day. By 2024, the BLS projects a shortage of 1.09 million registered nurses.
While the shortage affects nurses and patients across the country, there are a few states that will feel the effects much stronger than others. While the best long-term solution is training and enabling more nurses to meet the growing needs of patients, a short-term solution is needed in the interim.
Travel nursing helps to multiply the current healthcare workforce by enabling nurses to provide care to the areas that need it most. These seven states have the largest predicted shortage based on data from the Supply and Demand Projections of the Nursing Workforce report from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
States With the Greatest Nursing Need
Across states, the projected supply and demand was affected by a number of factors including aging population and health workforce availability. The states below showed the greatest disparity between projected supply and the demand of the population.
| Rank | State | Supply | Demand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 343400 | 387900 | -44500 |
| 2 | Texas | 253400 | 269300 | -15900 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 90800 | 102200 | -11400 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 52100 | 62500 | -10400 |
| 5 | Alaska | 18400 | 23800 | -5400 |
| 6 | Georgia | 98800 | 101000 | -2200 |
| 7 | South Dakota | 11700 | 13600 | -1900 |
Find Opportunities In States With Largest Nursing Shortages
By taking travel assignments in these states, you can help to provide care for the patients in these areas that need it most.
As always, you can search for all available opportunities on Nomad for free here.
Warmly,
The Nomad Team
nomadhealth.com
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