Alberta RN demographics

In 2000 more than one-quarter of the Alberta RN labour force was older than 50 years of age, while close to one-half was between 36 and 50 years of age. While this age distribution denotes a mature RN cadre, with considerable valuable practice experience, it also signals a need for an increased number of new RN graduates to replace those soon to be retiring. Although possibly age-related, the proportion of Alberta RNs working regular full-time is less than half--only 45 per cent. Concomitantly, more than half of all Alberta RNs are employed casually and part-time. Especially in a time of RN shortage, reasons for such limited full-time employment warrant examination. As in the past, three-quarters of Alberta RNs work in institutional settings--hospitals and nursing homes--while only eight per cent work in community health. The shift to health promotion and disease prevention has yet to happen in Alberta. In 2000, almost 80 per cent of all Alberta RNs were employed in direct care giving, and less than 10 per cent were employed in management, administration and education. In 2000, almost two-thirds of all Alberta RNs held a diploma in nursing. Of the slightly more than 8,000 Alberta RNs with a baccalaureate degree, the overwhelming majority--85 per cent--worked in direct patient care, and only 13 per cent were employed in administration and teaching. Increasingly, we can expect to see more RNs with baccalaureate degrees at the bedside, in part because of the recent significant shift toward new graduates entering practice with a degree. Since 1997, the number of new RNs entering practice with a degree has been four times greater than the number entering with a diploma. Increased government funding of degree nursing programs aimed at alleviating the current nursing shortage means this trend will continue.