According to an article in The Enid News and Eagle, the national turnover rate for elderly health care jobs is as high as 150 percent.
There are several reasons for the country’s shortage of elderly health care workers – especially nurses – and aging is high on the list. With an aging baby boom generation beginning to retire, including nurses in the cohort, shortages will likely become more pronounced.
According to the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the average age of the RN population was 48.6 years in March 2004. In 1996, the average age was 42.3. In 2004, 26.6 percent of all RNs were estimated to be under 40. The under-30 RN population is 8.1 percent in 2004. The number of nurses over 54 is about 25.5 percent in 2004. The survey shows the average age of RNs is trending upward, and there are fewer younger nurses in the field. Unless the number of nurses increases, the shortage will get worse as the boomers retire and need long term care.
Texas hospitals are feeling the crunch, and I’m sure the effect “trickles down” to nursing facilities and home health agencies that employ certified nurse aides.
Also see Hospital Nursing in Texas (PDF) and press release (PDF) about a survey conducted by the Texas Department State Health Services.
