According to new research, one million registered nurses will retire between now and 2030. The departure of so many skilled health professionals and the impact it will have on health care is written about in Health Affairs: “How Should We Prepare For The Wave Of Retiring Baby Boomer Nurses?” Dr. Peter Buerhaus, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies at Montana State University, and his colleagues, endeavor to answer this vexing question in their recent blog post, providing four specific actions to prevent the issues that could occur as the number of retiring nurses rises.
Dr. Buerhaus is no stranger to studying the nursing workforce. He is a renowned nurse economist who is recognized nationally for his expertise on health care workforce issues. The foundation has supported Dr. Buerhaus and his research for many years, including several efforts on the role of nurse practitioners, studying the nursing workforce nationally and empirical research on the nursing workforce to support action, which continues today.
One key issue highlighted in the blog: the rate of retiring nurses is commensurate with the rapidly aging U.S. population. Over the next few decades, the country’s population will shift dramatically with people 65 years and older reaching nearly 84 million — almost double the population as of 2012. With a growing number of elders, there will be increased demands for nurses who have the requisite skills to manage and care for people as they age, particularly those with high needs — an area the foundation is currently working in.
Our support of Dr. Buerhaus first started through the Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative which ended in 2015. The 12 year-initiative supported nurses in delivering and ensuring high-quality care for patients.
Message sent
Thank you for sharing.