A nursing advocacy group in Louisiana says the state is not prepared to accommodate the influx of baby boomers who are approaching retirement, according to a published report.
A recent study administered by the Louisiana Center for Nursing, an arm of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, determined the state is in need of people to fulfill nursing jobs, American Press reports. Moreover, that need will strengthen as time passes.
"This study reflects the kind of collaboration and employer involvement Louisiana needs to operate a responsive, demand-driven workforce system," executive director Curt Eysink with the Louisiana Workforce Commission told the news source. "The state's labor markets and our high schools, colleges and universities need actionable labor market intelligence like this to make good decisions about the courses and degrees they offer. Students need this information to make good decisions about their careers."
The survey asked the questions of hospitals, center for psychiatric services, facilities for long-term and skilled nursing, agencies that provide home healthcare and hospice services, ambulatory healthcare facilities and the Office of Public Health.
The median pay for nurses is roughly $64,690 per year and the minimal educational requirement is an Associate's Degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.