Nurses play essential roles in the lives of patients. The future of nursing looks bright. As such, nurses look poised to continue to make vital contributions to healthcare facilities across the United States in the foreseeable future.
There are several nursing practice and education trends to watch that could shape the future of nursing. These include:
1. Rising Interest in Online Nursing Programs
The COVID-19 pandemic changed education globally. Colleges and universities increasingly let students complete coursework online. Some nursing programs made the shift to fully online courses.
Expect the demand for virtual learning in nursing to continue. This creates more opportunities than ever before for people to pursue nursing careers. People can even earn online degrees and seek jobs in various nursing specialties.
2. Increasing Salaries for Nurses
As of May 2021, the median annual salary for registered nurses (RNs) in the United States totaled $77,600, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, RNs are in high demand nationwide. This could boost the median annual salary for RNs.
Many healthcare organizations are competing with one another for top nursing talent. They want quality RNs on staff that can deliver immediate and long-lasting results. Thus, healthcare organizations may offer unique benefits to attract the best nursing job candidates. They may offer these benefits in addition to high salaries. And, doing so can help these healthcare organizations attract and retain top talent in nursing.
3. More Support for Nurses’ Mental Health Will Become Available
Nurses face immense pressure. They must fulfill their daily responsibilities in a fast-paced and constantly changing work environment. Also, nurses must keep pace with patient requests. They need to comply with HIPAA and other healthcare regulations, too.
Healthcare organizations are recognizing the importance of work-life balance for nurses. Healthcare organizations may offer additional mental health tools and resources to help nurses establish and maintain a healthy work-life balance. They may encourage their nurses to take time off for vacations and offer flexible scheduling. On top of that, they may provide nurses with access to mental health benefits that were previously unavailable.
Keep an Eye on the Future of Nursing
The future of nursing depends on healthcare organizations and their nursing teams. Healthcare organizations must commit the time, energy, and resources required to find and train nurses. At the same time, nurses must continue to learn and grow. Together, healthcare organizations and nurses can achieve fantastic patient outcomes.
For healthcare organizations, commit to your nurses. Doing so allows you to keep your nursing team happy. It can distinguish your healthcare organization from others, which can help you bolster your talent recruitment and retention.
Comparatively, those wanting to become nurses or advance in their nursing career can do just that. They can enroll in nursing classes and workshops. Many healthcare organizations are ready to hire and train people who want to become nurses or grow their nursing careers.
At BOS Medical Staffing, we offer staffing assistance to healthcare organizations. We also support those who want to enter nursing or take the next step in their nursing career. To learn more, get in touch with us today.
