Nursing Shortage

Edgewood College is trying to combat the nursing shortage in the State of Wisconsin. The Edgewood College School of Nursing graduating class grew from approximately 40 students in 2004 to an anticipated 100 per year by May 2010 with their new accelerated program. This has only been possible through the continued support of the event sponsors who have made it possible for the 4 out of 5 nursing students that depend on financial aid to be able to afford to finish their degree. Though they are making a difference, Edgewood College continues to need your help to graduate nursing professionals who will someday make a difference in the lives of many.

Nursing Shortage Nationwide

  • Current estimates predict a shortage of up to one million nurses by 2020.
  • The U.S. government spends 50 times ($8 billion yearly vs. $156 million) more on medical than on nursing education.
  • The impending decline in the supply of RNs will come at a time when the first of 78 million baby boomers begin to retire and enroll in the Medicare program in 2010.
  • 233,000 additional jobs will open for RNs each year through 2016, on top of about 2.5 million existing positions. But only about 200,000 candidates passed the registered nurse licensing exam in 2008, and thousands of nurses leave the profession each year.
  • The United States will require 1.2 million new RNs by 2014 to meet the nursing demand: approximately 500,000 RNs to replace nurses leaving the field, and an additional 700,000 to meet growing demand for nursing services.
  • The more patients per nurse has proven to increase the risk that patients will die. Patients have a 7 percent greater chance of dying within 30 days of admission for each additional patient per nurse.
  • Enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by only 2.0 percent from 2007 to 2008. Though this marks the eighth consecutive year of enrollment growth, the annual increase in student capacity in four-year nursing programs has declined sharply since 2003 when enrollment was up by 16.6 percent. Adding to this sobering news is the fact that enrollment growth in master's nursing programs has also decreased.

    • Wisconsin’s Nursing Shortage

  • Wisconsin’s projected demand for full-time RNs in 2020 is 50,300.
  • The RN vacancy rate in Wisconsin is the highest it has been in five years and it is predicted to continue to increase.
  • Registered nurse is one of the top 10 occupations in Wisconsin with the most job openings projected for 2006-2026.
  • To meet the projected growth in demand for RN services, the U.S. must graduate approximately 90 percent more nurses from U.S. nursing programs.
  • In Wisconsin hospitals, 37% of LPNs, 15% of RNs and 13% of CNAs are at least 55- years-old.
  • There are expected to be 13,400 new registered nurse positions created in Wisconsin over the next 10 years, but it’s also anticipated there will be 8,400 replacement positions available. Registered nurse is the only job in the top 10 where new jobs will outpace replacement positions.



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