Registered nursing is one of the fastest growing careers in the U.S. By 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, 580,000 more nursing positions will be needed, a growth rate of 22 percent since 2008.
A number of demographic factors are contributing to this shortage of nurses, says Maureen Peterkin, nursing instructor at Everest University in Brandon, Fla. First, demographic changes are increasing the demand for health care of all kinds, and nurses and other health professionals are in high demand. “With an aging baby-boomer population, the need for more qualified health professionals is increasing dramatically,” says Peterkin. Other demographic trends, such as longer life spans, are creating a need for nurses with specialized training in long-term care and elder care.
Peterkin explains that Everest College’s targeted nursing program is aimed at helping students from a wide variety of backgrounds and work experiences get the knowledge and hands-on skills they need to enter the nursing profession in a timely manner.
“Nursing truly is a rewarding career. We need to spread the word about all the important work nurses do,” says Peterkin.
