title: Why are shortages of hospital RNs concentrated in specialty care units?
abstract: This article is the first in a series examining the interplay between the aging of the nurse workforce and other factors driving the growing nursing shortage that are already affecting some specialty areas. Nearly 60% of the current RN workforce is over 40 years of age; and the percentage of RNs under age 30 has fallen by nearly 40% since 1980. The total number of FTE RNs is projected to shrink after 2010, likely resulting in shortages of RNs "when the large baby-boom generation of RNs starts to retire." Because ICUs have historically attracted younger RNs, the rapid decline in the number of RNs in the workforce under age 30 plays a large role in explaining the development of shortages in the ICU. The growing difficulties staffing operating rooms and other peri-operative services is seen as related to the aging work force as more diploma prepared nurses have been attracted to this specialty because they had educational exposure to this area.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Buerhaus
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Auerbach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce