The number of young people pursuing nursing jobs is surging, according to a recent article in the journal Health Affairs.
The article, titled "Registered Nurse Supply Grows Faster Than Projected Amid Surge in New Entrants Ages 23-26," said that in the 1980s and '90s there was a decline in people in that age group pursuing nursing careers. However, between 2002 and 2009 the number of full-time-equivalent registered nurses between the ages of 23 and 26 increased by 62 percent.
"If these young nurses follow the same life-cycle employment patterns as those who preceded them – as they appear to be thus far – then they will be the largest cohort of registered nurses ever observed," the authors said.
David I. Auerbach, one of the authors, acknowledged that it wasn't exactly clear why the uptick occurred but he hypothesized that a decline in manufacturing jobs coupled with educational programs making it easier and more convenient to pursue registered nursing jobs were contributing factors.
According to Healthcare Finance News, as a result of this trend, the number of registered nurses is expected to increase at the same rate as the population through 2030.