While Florida gained more than 27,000 RNs in the past two years, losses to the nurse workforce erased 60 percent of that gain, according to a report by the Jacksonville Business Journal.
The finding was from a study by the state-run Florida Center for Nursing, which also reported even more dramatic losses to the LPN workforce, which would have a net gain of only about 28 percent.
The center's lead researcher said the results were surprising because nurse workforce participation rates have been at historic highs.
In addition, more than 40 percent of Florida nurses will reach retirement age within the 10 years, and the supply of new RNs to take their place won't be sufficient, even as Florida nursing education programs continue to turn away many qualified applicants, the center reported.
Read the Jacksonville Business Journal's report on Florida's nursing supply.