Running head: NURSING SHORTAGES 1

Literature Review

Nursing Shortages Relate to the Demand for Nursing Programs

Gwen Hansen

California State University, Monterey Bay

December11, 2018

IST 511 Writing Workshop

Dr. Tourtellotte
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Nursing Shortages Relate to the Demand for Nursing Programs

The demand for qualified Registered Nurses (RNs) has led to more applicants seeking

admission to Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) programs offered within the California State

University (CSU) system. Applicants find it difficult to get into the nursing major because of

limited space for enrollment. Many students pursue a major that promises excellent future job

opportunities and the nursing shortage across America make the nursing major appealing. This

results in an increase to the number of applicants for BSN programs. Prior studies on the nursing

shortage have identified various factors that contribute to the need for RNs. The purpose of this

review is to relate the need for RNs to the impaction of the BSN program offered at CSU San

Marcos.

The literature suggests that the demand for health services, combined with an aging

population and an aging workforce, are factors that influence the supply and demand for the

nursing labor market (Buchan, J., Duffield, C., & Jordan, A., 2015). Haddad & Toney-Butler

(2018) reiterate in their research that the aging population coupled with a workforce reaching

retirement age will continue to cause a nursing shortage for some time (p.1). The United States

Department of Health and Human Services regularly monitors nursing supply and demand.

Although their findings conclude that the RN workforce shortages and surpluses vary across the

United States, they do predict a deficit of 10,000 or more nurses in California by 2030 (2017).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment for RNs is expected to grow

faster than all other occupations in the U.S. Economy; 15 percent from 2016 to 2026 (2017).

Their research note that the projected growth is due to emphasis on preventative care, increased

chronic health conditions, services needed by the aging population, and the replacement of

nurses reaching retirement These projections indicate a continued demand for nursing programs.
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Some of the literature suggests that, in addition to the demand for RNs, nursing programs cannot

accommodate all BSN nursing applicants. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing

(AACN) elaborates on additional factors to the nursing shortage that include thousands of

qualified applicants being denied admission to BSN programs due to insufficient budgets,

faculty, and clinical preceptors (2017).

To address the on-going need for registered nurses in the workforce, Voelpel, Escallier,

Fullerton, & Rodriguez (2018) work with veterans separating from service. Their research on

their veteran’s nursing program states that admission to BSN programs is one of the challenges

and barriers veterans experience when transitioning into the nursing healthcare field. The

literature reviewed overwhelmingly suggests that the ongoing nursing shortages will continue for

some time. In addition, the literature supports that the need for qualified RNs impacts the

demand for nursing BSN programs across the United States, which relates to the limited

enrollment in the BSN program offered at CSU San Marcos.

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References

Buchan, J., Duffield, C., & Jordan, A. (2015). ‘Solving’ nursing shortages: Do we need a New

Agenda? Journal of Nursing Management, 23(5), 543-545. Retrieved from

https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.library2.csumb.edu:2248/doi/full/10.1111/jonm.12315

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook,

Registered Nurses. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-

nurses.htm

Haddad, L. M. (2018, May 13). Nursing, Shortage. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493175

Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet. (2017, May 18) Retrieved from

https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Shortage

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration,

National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. 2017. National and Regional Supply and

Demand Projections of the Nursing Workforce: 2014-2030. Retrieved from:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bhw/nchwa/projections/NCHWA_HRSA_Nursing

_Report.pdf

Voelpel, Escallier, Fullerton, & Rodriguez. (2018). Transitioning veterans to nursing careers: A

model program. Journal of Professional Nursing, 34(4), 273-279. Retrieved from:

https://www-sciencedirect-

com.library2.csumb.edu:2248/science/article/pii/S8755722317301369