Physician and nurse vacancy rates in hospitals have increased dramatically from 2009 rates, according to AMN Healthcare's 2013 Clinical Workforce Survey.
Hospital executives indicated a 17.6 percent vacancy rate for physicians in their organizations this year — up from just 10.7 percent vacancy rate reported in 2009. The vacancy rate for nurses increased even more: from 5.5 percent in 2009 to 17 percent this year.
Additionally, the survey found that 78 percent of hospital executives believe there is a national physician shortage, and 66 percent believe there is a shortage of nurses as well.
Susan Salka, president and CEO of AMN Healthcare, believes the shortages are going to become more acute. "We are expanding access to healthcare and restructuring the delivery system to improve quality and reduce costs at the precise moment when a wave of physicians and nurses is set to retire," she said in a news release. "It will take new, collaborative and innovative staffing models to ensure our workforce is aligned with the goals we all want to reach."
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