Skill Shortage: Demand For Nurses In Detroit On The Rise
Within the health care field, of which nursing is shown as a profession with a faster-than-average growth rate from 2010-2020, the demand for skilled nurses is increasing. In Detroit and surrounding communities, there is a great amount of vacancies just waiting to be filled.
On January 4, 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Situation Summary. This reports that in December of 2012, employment in the health care industry continued to expand, adding 45,000 jobs to the labor market. Of those 45,000 jobs, over 12,000 of them are new positions in hospitals. Detroit nurses can benefit from this addition by throwing their hat into the employment mix.
Just browse through some popular job search sites and look at the amount of openings for health care providers in the Metro Detroit area. From RNs to patient care coordinators, there are a variety of positions available to be filled.
Nursing is the fastest-growing occupation within the United States at this time. An increased number of nursing jobs are expected to be added in order to fulfill the growing need. With a large portion of the population aging, the need for a skilled workforce within this industry is increasing exponentially. In addition to an aging population, the number of nurses is contracting, thereby creating a high amount of job openings for skilled nurses. There were approximately 2,737,400 jobs held by nurses in 2010, a number which is expected to increase by 26 percent by 2020, as cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Health care facilities, such as outpatient facilities, doctors' offices, hospitals and nursing care facilities, are seeking educated nurses to fill positions. Employers are hiring those with experience, education and increased skill sets.
According to the report, "The Future of Nursing: Focus on Education," released by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, "Significant barriers must be overcome if the shortage of nurses is going to be offset and more advanced and expanded nursing roles are going to be filled. Having enough nurses with the right kinds of skills will contribute to the overall safety and quality of a transformed health care system."
Nurses entering the profession will need to have a higher level of skills than those currently employed. The reason for this is both new and changing illnesses and diseases affecting the population, paired with technological advances occurring at a fast pace within the medical field. Due to the increase in new technology, nurses need to be knowledgeable about these shifts and know how to utilize the technology that is part of their occupation, thereby preparing those positioned to enter the field with skills that fit the needs of employers.
After receiving a BA in Photography from Savannah College of Art & Design, Nicole Wrona began working with a diverse range of musicians. In addition, she is a freelance writer for numerous publications. Her work can be found at www.metalleaves.com and Examiner.com.
