Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the United States, and other trends you need to know

The largest healthcare profession in the United States is nursing. There are around 4 million registered
nurses in the United States. But, don’t let that stop you because nurses are in high demand.  
 
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of registered nurses will grow 12% from
2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all professions. On top of that, there is a growing
shortage of physicians.
 
This means there will be demand for nurses in the foreseeable future. Let’s examine the top changes in
nursing that will change in the next few years.
 
Covid-19 precautions
Covid-19 precautions are the new normal. As of 2020, nurses will be faced with being on the frontlines
with yet another infectious disease.
Personal safety equipment is a must and nurses must adhere to CDC guidelines, even more strictly than
ever before.
                                    
Nurses will practice independently
Due to the talent shortage of primary care physicians, more states will likely give nurse practitioners the
authority to practice independently.
Currently, 22 states and Washington D.C. allow nurse practitioners full practice authority, while other
states require collaborative agreement with a supervising physician, or have restrictions on practice.
The National Academy of Medicine and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing are both
recommending that nurses be granted full practice authority in all states.
When this happens, staffing agencies will help nurses find those available jobs. 
In 2018, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) coordinated the Enhanced Nurse
Licensure Compact (eNLC). This makes it easier for nurses to travel and work across state lines.
 
As of now, 32 states have joined the (eNLC) and legislation is pending in Massachusetts, Michigan,
Vermont, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.  
Staying informed is an important part of your career that’s why we run updates throughout the year on
trends we see in the industry.