Will significant numbers of nursing jobs be available in the future? If you’re thinking of pursuing a career in the healthcare industry, this question is probably on your mind. After all, you’ll be investing a bundle of money, time and effort in obtaining all the credentials you need to become a nurse; you want to be sure of staking your efforts in a field where work is likely to be available when you’ve finally got your degree and your license to practice in hand.
According to analysts at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the future outlook for nursing employment is exceptionally favorable. They are forecasting increasing demand for nurses at every level of education and experience.
The Outlook for Employment of Advanced Practice Nurses
According to their forecasts, there will be a dramatic increase in demand for highly educated advanced practice nurses (APRNs). The BLS is predicting that employers will add 31 percent more advanced practice nursing jobs to the US economy by 2026. Of all the advanced practice nursing specializations, they’re predicting the most favorable outlook for nurse practitioners; for this specialization, they believe there will be an exceptionally high increase of 36 percent in the numbers of available jobs.
The most important takeaway here: If you want to maximize your opportunities for both pay and fantastic job opportunities, it’s worthwhile to consider training to become a nurse practitioner. You’ll need to pursue at least a master’s degree to qualify. It is also possible to qualify with a higher-level graduate degree such as a Ph.D. or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
The Outlook for Employment of Registered Nurses
There will also be significant numbers of available jobs for registered nurses who hold bachelor’s degrees. BLS staff is forecasting a favorable job outlook for registered nurses until at least the year 2026. They’re forecasting solid growth of about 15 percent up until then, with a predicted total of more than 437,000 new job opportunities that they expect to see becoming available. They’re making these estimates based on their awareness of the USA’s growing healthcare needs and also their expectation that many currently employed nurses will be reaching retirement age and discontinuing work in the years ahead.
The Outlook for Employment of Licensed Practical Nurses and Vocational Nurses
There’s also increasing demand for vocational nurses and licensed practical nurses. BLS analysts are forecasting about 88,600 new jobs in these specializations, an increase of about 12 percent, by the year 2026. To find a job in this field, you may need to search for work in a rural area; you may also be more employable if you specialize in a specific niche such as intravenous therapy or gerontology. Certifications can help you demonstrate your expertise in one of these niches.
If you’re in a hurry to start your nursing career, this could possibly be a viable specialization to pursue; you need less education for this type of role, although the pay is also considerably less. Some nurses are able to gain the diploma they need to become a vocational nurse in about a year’s worth of study and clinical practice time.
Thanks to these insights made available by experts in the US government, you can feel confident that there will be plenty of work available for you in the future if you decide to pursue a career in nursing. As you can see, the future employment outlook for nursing jobs is extremely favorable, particularly if you obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree.