Projections of the Long-Term Growth of the Registered Nurse Workforce

Researchers projected nursing workforce supply between 2010 and 2030 for each of the four major census regions of the United States (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Because of considerable differences across regions in the age structure of the workforce, projections differ greatly, with substantial growth in per-capita RN supply in the Midwest and South and declines in per capita supply in the Northeast and West over the projection period. Unless policy or supply responses occur, these differences would widen current gaps in RN supply between the Western United States and other regions.