A recent report by the Washington Post suggests that the recession alleviated a nursing provider shortage, at least for hospitals in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
The recession seems to have pushed a significant number of retired nurses back into the field as well as delayed the retirement dates of older nurses. Additionally, part-time nurses are seeking full-time positions.
At Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Md., for example, the percent of full-time nurses has increased from 60 percent to 73 percent since the recession.
These forces have lowered nursing vacancy rates in the region. The vacancy rate for RNs in Maryland hospitals dropped from 10 percent in 2005 to 5.3 percent in 2009, and the vacancy rate for LPNs dropped from 6.2 percent to 1.7 percent, according to the Maryland Hospital Association.
Read more coverage on nursing shortages:
- Nursing Center Created to Alleviate Nebraska Nursing Shortage
- Survey of Nurses' Upcoming Plans Suggests Nursing Shortage Will Return
The recession seems to have pushed a significant number of retired nurses back into the field as well as delayed the retirement dates of older nurses. Additionally, part-time nurses are seeking full-time positions.
At Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Md., for example, the percent of full-time nurses has increased from 60 percent to 73 percent since the recession.
These forces have lowered nursing vacancy rates in the region. The vacancy rate for RNs in Maryland hospitals dropped from 10 percent in 2005 to 5.3 percent in 2009, and the vacancy rate for LPNs dropped from 6.2 percent to 1.7 percent, according to the Maryland Hospital Association.
Read more coverage on nursing shortages:
- Nursing Center Created to Alleviate Nebraska Nursing Shortage
- Survey of Nurses' Upcoming Plans Suggests Nursing Shortage Will Return