TRENDS
The Nursing Workforce Opportunities, barriers and hopes for a vital component of healthcare providers.
The challenges – and opportunities – facing the nursing profession, and all
to rural populations, help improve
those who rely on nursing, precede COVID and will outlast it. In a report published this
maternal health outcomes, and
spring, “The Future of Nursing:2020-2030,” the National Academy of Medicine made
deliver more health and preventive
the following points:
care in community-based settings. A 2020 report prepared for the American Association of Medical
ʯ As the U.S. population ages, patients
adults—those who need assistance
Colleges estimated that by 2033,
will include increasing percentages
with multiple activities of daily
current physician shortages could
of older people, many of whom will
living, are weak and losing body
increase, ranging between 21,400
have multiple comorbid conditions,
mass, and have an increased risk of
and 55,200 for primary care
which will increase the complexity
dying within the next 2–3 years.
physicians, and between 33,700
and intensity of the nursing care
28
ʯ Nurses will have to expand their
and 86,700 for specialty physicians.
they require. Increases can also be
roles to supplement a shrinking
These projections, made prior to
expected in the number of frail older
primary care workforce, provide care
the COVID-19 pandemic, take into
November 2021 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
