Possible nursing shortage coming in 2020

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a predicted nursing shortage in the near future.

MUW Associate professor Dr. Melesia Henry has been in the nursing field for 38 years.

She said a lot of things have changed since she first entered the profession.

She said patients are a lot sicker now and are living longer.

Although there are more sick patients, there’s a concern for a shortage of nurses.

I believe with our entry-level nurses, there’s going to be a projected shortage around 2020, as all of the Baby Boomers begin to retire and then, we’re also going to be facing a nursing faculty shortage,” said Dr. Henry.

She believes there also other causes for the shortage.

She said it could be linked to nursing students or recent nursing grads wanting Monday through Friday schedules, rather than working night shifts or holidays.