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Health Care Providers Cite Difficulty Recruiting and Retaining RNs Statewide, According to UAlbany Center for Health Workforce Studies
ALBANY, N.Y. (July 23, 2007) -- Health care providers statewide report persistent problems in recruiting and retaining registered nurses (RNs), as well as workers in an increasing number of other health occupations, according to a recent report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany's School of Public Health. The annual tracking report, The Health Care Workforce in New York: Trends in the Supply and Demand for Health Workers, also found that a growing number of nursing programs turned away qualified applicants in 2005, the most recent data available, citing limits on program admissions as the primary reason.
"Sustained growth in the number of RN graduates from the state's RN education programs has led to a modest increase in the supply of registered nurses statewide," said Jean Moore, director of the Center. "Despite this, health care providers continue to report RN recruitment and retention difficulties. This may reflect the fact that the supply of RNs is not keeping pace with the growing demand for health services."
This annual tracking report monitors health care employment patterns as well as other indicators of the supply of and demand for health workers by occupation and setting in New York.
Key findings of the tracking report include:
- Health care employment in regions outside of New York City rose by 18 percent between 1990 and 2005, while jobs in all other employment sectors declined by 5 percent. In New York City, health sector employment grew 23 percent, and employment in all other sectors also rose 11 percent over the same time period.
- The region with the largest percentage increase in health sector employment between 2000-2005 was the North Country with 12.9 percent while the region with the lowest percentage increase was the Finger Lakes with 1 percent.
- Employment in home health care, ambulatory care, and nursing homes grew the fastest, while hospital employment remained relatively stable.
- Between 2000 and 2005, health care job growth in New York was greatest for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; home health aides; medical managers; and RNs.
- An increasing number of nursing education programs reported no growth in the number of admissions in 2005, compared to 2004.
- Statewide, the most substantial job growth was projected for RNs, nursing aides, and home health aides between 2002 and 2012.
View a complete copy of the report >>
The Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany's School of Public Health conducts studies of the supply, demand, use, and education of the health workforce, and collects and analyzes data to better understand workforce dynamics and trends.
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