For some hospitals, filling their shortage of nursing positions requires a new approach to conventional hiring and communicating with potential hires. Hospitals in Pennsylvania are turning to social sites to help find qualified RNs where the right kind of message and timely posting can be shared hundreds or thousands of times with a simple click of the mouse to large networks. After all, who has better access to plenty of qualified nurses better than the nurses themselves? St. Luke’s Miners Campus posted on Facebook to promote an RN open house, while Hazleton General Hospital used Twitter to let people know they have openings for RNs. Leigh Ann Wiedlich, community relations coordinator for the Greater Hazelton Health Alliance explains “Social media is a way to attract young professionals." This search for qualified RNs is partly in response to the reported current or impending nursing shortage for the U.S. Some areas may be hit by a shortage more than others, as one doctor shares “The nursing shortage is far from over." Dr. Mary Ann Merrigan explained, associate dean at the School of Nursing at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre. "The United States projected a shortage of registered nurses that will intensify as the baby boomers age."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for registered nurses will grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020 - a rate that is faster than the average for all occupations. Merrigan agrees with the agency's outlook, saying that the need for more nurses has affected the enrollment at her school and across the United States. "There will be a shortage of a quarter of a million nurses in the next 10 years. This is the greatest nursing shortage since the 1960s." Some companies take a proactive approach to hiring and staffing, preparing for demand before it hits. They do this by working closely with nursing schools at colleges and adjusting their staff based on predicted demand. However, this isn’t a guaranteed solution and finding the right nurse for the job can take some extra incentivizing. The shortage also could affect how many students can enroll in nursing programs because of a lack of faculty to teach the courses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing studied this last year and identified 1,181 faculty vacancies across 662 nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs in the United States. This could have a major impact on the number of future nurses available to fill positions left open by retiring nurses. If there aren’t enough nurse educators, there won’t be enough graduating nurses to meet the demands of healthcare system.

Rue Education has been innovating the way LPN/LVNs, RTs, and Paramedics become RNs for over 20 years. We understand that although the motivation and desire may be there for an individual to pursue their nursing degree and become an RN, the means to do so isn’t always available. Not everyone can afford to miss hours at their work to attend campus classes, or take time away from their family to commute to class. Lives and responsibilities come first and career goals can be sidelined. That’s why Rue Education created a unique approach to becoming a registered nurse by studying and taking nursing courses on your own schedule at your own pace. We also gave you a team of support with real academic advisors and nurse educators to help you from beginning to graduation. You also have options like tutor-led online courses for those that like the structure of a tutor. We also understand that people are more connected and social than ever. Rue’s Mentor Connection is a place where other classmates just like you can come together for study tips, words of advice, and encouragement. You can also stay up-to-date on current events in the nursing world by reading our blog and following us on Facebook and Twitter. Join the Rue family! Nearly 100,000 others have already used Rue Education to earn credit toward their nursing degree, are you ready?