Job Trends within Nursing
Projections as a Tool when Changing Nursing Jobs
The goal of this blog post is to identify some industry projections/trends to be considered when considering a job change within nursing including nurse entrepreneurship and self-employment. Few professions offer as much variety and opportunities as nursing. The book 201 Careers in Nursing (http://www.amazon.com/Careers-Nursing-Joyce-Fitzpatrick-FAAN/dp/0826133827) describes 201 jobs available in nursing. The book includes information on required education, core competencies, skills, related websites, and profiles of nurses who practice in that area. I recommend this book for all nurses of all levels to update themselves on the evolution of nursing.
If I were a guidance counselor in a nursing school program, I would consider industry projections when designing a job path with the student. Nurses who are considering a change of jobs and/or nurse entrepreneurship can also use these trends.
Trends to be considered are which jobs and/or business opportunities:
- are the fastest growing;
- use new technology;
- include growing customer populations;
- continue to shift from products to service.
Fastest growing
Management, scientific, healthcare, and technical consulting services are projected to be the fastest growing industries. According to Modern Healthcare, when most sectors were losing jobs, healthcare added jobs.
Among all the occupations, healthcare is expected to grow and make up 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the country. Businesses will continue to outsource and hire temporary help in the future making self-employment realistic and profitable. The following projections should be considered when deciding what jobs to consider.
- The U.S. will need 1.2 million RNs by 2014 (resource RN January 2009 pg. 17).
- Professional and business services are expected to grow.
- Education and health services are projected to grow faster and add more jobs than any other sector. About 1 out of 4 jobs created will be either healthcare, social assistance, or private education services.
- The information sector is expected to grow rapidly. This includes software publishing, Internet publishing, broadcasting, service providers; and web search portals and data processing services.
- Overall employment in leisure and hospitality is expected to grow.
- Government facilities, including schools and hospitals, are expected to increase.
- Women-owned businesses that receive government contracts are expected to have an advantage over the general public.
Technology
Technology is another key factor when looking at future employment trends. New technology can create new opportunities and eliminate others. The Internet has created great demand for workers in the information and technology fields and decreased the demand for others, e.g., travel agents, because people can now purchase their own services online.
Reducing healthcare fraud is a priority of federal law enforcement. One of the goals is to decrease Medicare costs by identifying fraud. For example, nurses are being hired for the recovery audit contractor (RAC) program. There are potential opportunities on both sides of the issue.
Population
The U.S. population is anticipated to increase. Growth means more customers looking for goods and services. The age group born in the years from 1945 to 1965 (baby boomers) will increase by 43.6% or 11.5 million persons, more than any other group.
In the future, minorities and immigrants are expected to constitute a larger share of the labor force. The number of Hispanics is projected to continue to grow much faster than other racial and ethnic groups. The number of women is expected to grow at a faster rate than men.
Shift from Products to Service
The long-term shift from goods (products) to services is anticipated to continue. Service jobs are expected to account for most of the new jobs generated.
Conclusion: When considering a job change including RN self-employment, nurse entrepreneurship, or an RN small business venture, it is important to design the company with the future in mind.
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