COVID-19 and the supply and demand for Registered Nurses

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Workforce Dynamics
• Nursing Economics
• Global Health Policy

Background:

• Widespread concerns exist regarding potential global nursing shortages.
• The COVID-19 pandemic is often cited as a primary driver for nurses leaving the profession.
• Recent trends in the United States suggest nurses are leaving specific jobs rather than the nursing field entirely.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the projected balance of nurse supply and demand globally.
• To investigate the factors influencing nurse retention and workforce participation.
• To challenge the certainty of impending worldwide nursing shortages.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nursing workforce trends, primarily using United States data.
• Examination of enrollment data for nursing education programs.
• Assessment of trends in international nurse migration.

Main Results:

• Nursing program enrollments in the United States have shown an increase.
• Nurse migration to the United States has experienced a decline.
• Data indicates a complex situation where nurses may change roles but not leave the profession.

Conclusions:

• The assumption of a definitive global nursing shortage requires further scrutiny.
• Factors such as increased education enrollment may mitigate future supply issues.
• Policy and economic factors influencing nurse retention warrant continued investigation.