A recent nationwide survey of nurses shows that many of them plan to leave their jobs, suggesting that the nursing shortage will return, according to a release from AMN Healthcare.
The ongoing nursing shortage appeared to dry up last year, as RNs who had been in part-time work or had left nursing altogether came back to fulltime work to supplement dwindling household income.
But the January survey by AMN, a healthcare staffing agency, suggests this surge in the nursing supply will be temporary.
The survey found that:
* 6 percent of nurses permanently employed in hospitals plan to retire in the next one to three years, reducing hospitals' nursing workforce by more than 70,000.
* 28 percent plan to leave the nursing field entirely or cut back on hours because the job is affecting their health.
* 30 percent said they would not be in their current job a year from now.
* 48 percent said they plan to alter their career path in 1-3 years.
* 55 percent believe that the quality of care that nurses provide has declined compared to five years ago.
* 59 percent said they would select nursing as a career if they did it all over again.
* 64 percent said they would recommend nursing as a career to young people.
Read AMN Healthcare's release on nursing supply.