Patti Ashwell, BSN, RN, CCRN
February 07, 2024 • 6 min read
Nursing is a dynamic and ever-evolving profession. Understanding nursing trends in 2024 will be critical for nursing professionals and students. Embracing new practices and technologies will enhance your skill sets, keep you competitive in the job market, and allow you to provide optimal care. Staying informed of trends and being knowledgeable about growth and change in healthcare will position you to be an active participant in the future of nursing practice.
Below we highlight notable trends in nursing for 2024 and look at valuable skills to consider, such as how technology impacts your practice, skills in demand, emerging specialties, and guidance for current nursing students. Exploring trends will give you a greater understanding of how they can shape and inform your career.
Notable Nursing Career Trends Projected for 2024
There are several notable trends expected to redefine the landscape of nursing in 2024. The nursing shortage continues and is expected to climb for the foreseeable future. Some major contributing factors include the following:
The general population is aging.
Increasing numbers of nurses are taking earlier retirement.
Nursing schools need help to support the growing numbers of applicants (that means a shortage of nurse educators exists).
Below are nursing areas continuing to gain momentum as the industry works to meet these demands.
Telehealth: According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 25 percent of patients used telehealth last year, which significantly exceeds the 5 percent accessing telehealth before the pandemic. Those numbers are expected to continue rising in the coming years as the telehealth model offers patients quality care and convenience, reduces costs, helps prevent the spread of disease, and can get reluctant patients in front of a provider.
Geriatric and palliative care: The baby boomer population is aging, leading to growing demand for specialized healthcare for elderly patients. In addition, there’s a greater need for compassionate end-of-life care, so palliative care in nursing is becoming increasingly significant.
Collaborative care models: The ever-changing healthcare landscape emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to complex medical circumstances. This approach requires communication and coordination among various healthcare professionals and specialized nursing skills to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Mental health: As destigmatization and social awareness related to mental health have increased, so has the recognition and importance of mental well-being. Understanding the connection between psychological and physical health has pushed the need for specialized mental health and psychiatric nursing roles.
Community-based nursing roles: Patient interest in a preventive and holistic healthcare approach is growing. That holistic focus on prevention and wellness fosters connections with the community and addresses broader public health needs.
Travel nursing: This area is experiencing tremendous growth as nursing shortages increase. Many nurses are choosing travel nursing over staff positions primarily because of the increase in pay coupled with flexibility and travel opportunities.
Nurse educators: In a time when many nursing trends are experiencing growth, educating nurses is moving in the opposite direction. The need for nurse educators is concerning as we face a nursing shortage. However, legislation is in the works to offer incentives for choosing to educate nurses, and schools across the country are implementing programs that shine a light on this career path.
Writing: Many nurses have discovered writing as a way to leverage their knowledge in healthcare, providing evidence-based information to patients and the medical community. Often, online research is a patient’s first point of contact when facing medical questions. Nurse writers deliver explicit, factual content for blogs, articles, scripts, books, journals, and educational materials to medical and wellness organizations.
How Will Technology Advancements Impact Nursing Roles in 2024?
Technology and healthcare go hand in hand, and the impact of technology on nursing will be even more evident in 2024. As mentioned, telehealth roles are becoming standard, enabling nurses to provide consultation and remote care and playing a huge part in career trends for nursing.
AI is another area of rapid growth; its use in planning and treatment will enhance the efficiency of nurses, giving them more time to allocate toward patient care. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) also play a significant role in nursing education, offering a more immersive learning experience. Technology is enhancing the capabilities of nurses while also requiring the upkeep of skills to ensure nurses are adept at using these advancements in their practice.
New Nursing Specialties Expected to Emerge in 2024
In the evolving healthcare landscape, new nursing specialties will arise in 2024. One niche area gaining traction is environmental health nursing, which focuses on the intersection between public health and environmental factors.
As technology advances, another specialized field will likely be bioinformatics nursing. Bioinformatics involves the management and analysis of biological data.
Additionally, genetic nursing will emerge as a specialized field as we see a rise in the importance of personalized medicine. Nurses with expertise in genetics will play a crucial role in understanding and implementing individualized treatment plans.
What Skills Will Likely Be in Higher Demand for Nurses in the Upcoming Year
Healthcare is changing, and that means nurses will find certain skill sets in greater demand. Currently, there’s an emphasis on health promotion, preventative care, and patient education. Nurses with strong foundational skills in these areas will be in high demand. Continuing education and staying updated on the latest technology and advancements will be essential in 2024.
Here are some skills to consider sharpening as healthcare changes:
Communication skills will continue to be a cornerstone of effective nursing practice with patients and interdisciplinary teams.
Strong digital literacy skills will inform and impact healthcare as technology progresses.
Adaptability and resilience are always crucial in nursing; these essential skills will become paramount given the rapid pace at which healthcare evolves.
Critical thinking and problem-solving are essential to any nursing practice and are particularly important when it comes to complex patient cases, heavy patient assignments, and collaborative decision-making.
How Can Current Nursing Students Prepare for the Career Trends Anticipated in 2024?
For current nursing students, planning and anticipating career trends is necessary. As discussed earlier in this guide, embracing and incorporating technology will give new nurses a competitive edge.
Below are some tips on areas to explore:
Exposure to geriatric, palliative, and community-based care will position you well for the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Engage in interdisciplinary learning opportunities, cultivate communication skills, and explore emerging specialties such as genetics, mental health, or becoming a nurse educator.
Participate in professional development activities and community healthcare and join nursing organizations like the National Student Nurses’ Association, American Nurses Association, or National League for Nursing.
Develop a mindset of continuous learning and stay informed.
Nursing careers will continue to evolve, and trends will emerge in 2024. Preparing to navigate the changes and challenges is critical for seasoned professionals, new nurses, and nursing students. Understanding and anticipating trends in education, emerging specialties, in-demand skills, and the impact of technology on nursing present opportunities for growth and taking part in specialized fields. Proactively acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to stay ahead of the curve will allow you to position yourself for a successful, meaningful career and make impactful contributions to healthcare.
Author Bio
Patti Ashwell, BSN, RN, CCRN, has more than twenty years of clinical experience in the critical care setting. While the primary portion of her career has been in adult ICU, she has practiced in CCU, ER, and hospice.
She is also a freelance medical/healthcare writer leveraging her experience as a nurse and educator. She is committed to bringing timely and topical content to the general public and medical community. Patti lives in New England with her wife and their dog.