Will There Be Enough Nurses for The Baby Boomers?

As interest in nursing careers continues to grow, nursing colleges and universities are struggling to expand programs and accommodate all qualified students. Over the past three years, thousands of would-be nurses have been turned away from nursing schools, primarily due to an insufficient number of faculty. To compound the problem, a wave of faculty retirements is expected over the next 10 years as competition for nurses with advanced degrees continues to grow.

Men in Nursing: How Come They are not Here and How to Draw Them In

Nursing leaders are preoccupied by the problems men face in entering this lucrative and rewarding profession. Men are a minority in nursing all over the country. If there was an attitude change, more men would embrace the profession. Actually, only 6% or RNs labor in the U.S. workforce. That is truly clear a major problem. Nursing recruiters must show men that nursing is a fast-paced environment that uses lots of fancy and sophisticated technologies. These days, high tech is so prevalent in nursing. Nursing leaders must mount a campaign to sell the profession to young boys, football players and adult men. They must show men that the profession is built around embedded independence, collaboration with physicians, opportunities to get promotions, challenges, lifelong learning and more importantly service to others in need. By nature, men can be caring too. Being shown as caring is not only the domain of women. This change of attitude must include the fact that the profession is perceived as being feminized. To grab the attention of technology-oriented men nowadays, a concerted effort must be made to reach them out.

Why should they choose nursing over construction work, engineering and other professions?

Give them the right pitches. Sell the profession to them. Give the reasons why it can be seen as a good career move. Talk about enjoyment (being happy at work and liking the job of serving others), good salary (money they could use to meet their goals and there would not be any financial worries any longer), stability (the idea of having a steady and secure job with flexible scheule with embedded hours allowing you to participate in one's kids' education and games)