Kelly Gooch – Becker’s Hospital Review
Georgia could see the largest shortage of registered nurses by 2036, with an estimated 34,800 vacancies, according to a March report from the Health Resources and Services Administration, a federal agency of HHS.
The finding comes as health systems nationwide brace for the “silver tsunami” of older Americans reaching the age of healthcare consumption. At the same time, healthcare workers continue to retire.
Additionally, while surveys suggest nurse staffing levels are improving, health systems continue to face recruitment and retention challenges.
The HRSA report highlights nurse workforce projections generated using the agency’s health workforce simulation. The projections span 2021 to 2036 and include data from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 10 states with the largest projected shortages of registered nurses by 2036, per the report:
Georgia
Projected shortage: 29%
Projected vacancies: 34,800
California
Projected shortage: 26%
Projected vacancies: 106,310
Washington
Projected shortage: 26%
Projected vacancies: 22,700
New Jersey
Projected shortage: 25%
Projected vacancies: 24,450
North Carolina
Projected shortage: 23%
Projected vacancies: 31,350
New Hampshire
Projected shortage: 23%
Projected vacancies: 4,120
South Carolina
Projected shortage: 21%
Projected vacancies: 13,570
Maryland
Projected shortage: 20%
Projected vacancies: 14,700
Michigan
Projected shortage: 19%
Projected vacancies: 21,870
Oregon
Projected shortage: 16%
Projected vacancies: 7,410
Note: Projections are in full-time equivalents, defined as working 40 hours a week. FTEs may differ from estimated headcounts. Shortage percentages are calculated as one minus supply adequacy, which is projected supply divided by projected demand.
