Summary
- 5.69 million nurses are actively practicing in the U.S.
- The U.S. is facing a shortage due to nurses quitting or retiring
- The nursing shortage will affect the quality of healthcare
How Many Nurses Are There in the U.S.?
The nursing profession has faced numerous challenges over the years, such as staffing shortages, high stress levels and a rapidly aging workforce. As of August 27, 2024, there are approximately 5.69 million active nurses in the U.S., including about 917,000 practical nurses and 4.85 million registered nurses, all facing these issues. These challenges are compounded by the increasing demand for healthcare services, especially given the aging population and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases.
Initiatives to Support and Expand the Number of Nurses in U.S. Practice
The U.S. faces a nursing shortage. This shortage has happened due to nurses leaving the workforce at both ends of the career spectrum.
Young nurses left the profession in high numbers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Their reasons for leaving included stressful work conditions, seeing so many people die and the risks of working near contagious patients.
A wave of nurses in the baby boomer generation is also reaching retirement age. As these nurses leave the profession, there have not been enough nursing students to replace them. Equally importantly, these aging nurses will, themselves, require skilled nursing as they develop health problems.
Hospitals and nursing schools have undertaken efforts to increase the number of nurses and nursing students. Better education programs and other initiatives make nursing jobs more satisfying and reduce turnover, and policy shifts can attract more people to the profession. These efforts are essential to maintain public health and ensure all patients get the care they need.
Effects of Falling Nursing Numbers
Healthcare outcomes are affected by how many nurses in the U.S. are actively practicing. The healthcare system may falter as nursing numbers fall.
Medical malpractice numbers had been dropping for two decades. Without experienced and skilled nurses, these numbers may climb again. Malpractice payouts can be enormous in many cases. High payouts, in turn, could lead to higher healthcare costs as malpractice insurance rates increase.
Worse yet, the nursing shortfall may accelerate as hospitals overburden their nurses, leading to burnout. Although nurses have ethical and legal limits on what they can do, they still have many responsibilities in delivering medical services. Relying on less experienced or undereducated staff members may increase risks to patients.
Learn More From ConsumerShield
Although there is great concern over how many nurses in the U.S. have retired or quit, hospitals and medical practices are still responsible for delivering skilled and competent services.
If you suffered medical malpractice, we can help you understand your rights and find an attorney to represent you. Contact ConsumerShield for a free case evaluation.
