United States is Projected to have a Shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 Registered Nurses by 2025

Attention everyone! Did you know that by 2025, the United States is projected to have a shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 registered nurses available for direct patient care? That’s a significant gap of 10 to 20 percent, and it places a huge demand on the nurse graduate pipeline over the next three years. To make matters worse, the International Council of Nurses has declared this shortage as a global health emergency (May 12, 2023). Let’s work together to raise awareness of this issue and support our healthcare professionals. #HealthcareCrisis #NurseShortage

Clinical Rns Are Leaving The Field By The Thousands At This Time

Are you thinking about it or have you already left? What does that mean for us? I personally left my position in Peds ICU in 2002. Having been observing the increasingly poor functioning of the healthcare system, I just thought that “Someone needs to do something!” Professional RNs of course! Who historically has stepped up to repair the medical system? Us! Professional nursing has always stepped into the breach starting at the turn of the 20th century.

Many thousands of European migrants were living in disease-ridden tenements at this time. A visionary RN at the time – Lillian Wald, RN – started the field of Public Health Nursing. Following in her footsteps, our profession stepped forward to create the role of Nurse Practitioner to address the paucity of primary care physicians in the 1970s.
Next came the development of the field of independent RN Patient Advocates and RN Case Managers as well as RN Health Coaches.

So, if you are considering leaving your bedside role, there is a great deal of opportunity in these fields.
A wide field of opportunities are there for you in the rapidly evolving field of RN Patient Advocacy: https://www.rnpatientadvocates.com

This advanced practice model began in 2002 and teaches RN Patient Advocacy Learning Intensives each year (tuition just reduced $1500 due to inflation). This program was developed in partnership with the U of AZ College of Nursing at their request. There are now RN Patient Advocates in 25+ states.

The time commitment is one 3-hour class (virtual on Zoom) weekly and then about 10 hours of homework time that you will complete in a group setting with other students. RNs who are accepted into this leading-edge program are exceptionally qualified/experienced and so work well in teams – participatory learning.

You will be taught not only how to practice as independent RN Patient Advocates utilizing both traditional medicine as well as advanced science models, but also how to build your practices. You have the opportunity to make a substantial annual living. Most iRNPAs start at $100.00/hour although they fairly quickly move up. There are iRNPAs in the US charging $250/hour…..and getting it! Are you ready to meet the challenge of working hard and being well rewarded for it?

If Independent Rn Patient Advocacy Does Not Fit Into Your Career Plans, You May Wish To Consider The Field Of Rn Case Managers

Case Management Society of America (CMSA) facilitates the growth and development of professional case managers across the full health care continuum, promoting high quality, ethical practice benefitting patients and their families. We strive for improved health outcomes through evidence-based resources, health care policy and the Standards of Practice. https://cmsa.org

Or Health Coaching: https://austinwellnesscollaborative.org/directory-listing/lyn-mccright

Also in the field of Health Coaching: https://www.wisdomofthewhole.com/about-us – Dr. Linda Bark

So, what direction do you foresee for your own nursing career?

I would be happy to meet you on a Zoom or a phone call to discuss this and answer your questions.
Whatever your decision is, I sincerely hope that you will stay in the field of professional nursing as it evolves. Do not let your knowledge and skill and experience leave!

Karen Mercereau, RN, iRNPA
karen@patientadvocates.com
Founder/CEO RN Patient Advocates, PLLC
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