Survey: Over 40 Percent of Nurses to Alter Career Path

SAN DIEGO-- Nearly one-third of registered nurses (RNs) surveyed last month say they will not be working in their current job a year from now and close to half say they plan to alter their career path in the next one to three years in a way that would either take them out of the nursing field entirely or reduce their contribution to direct patient care by working fewer hours or choosing a less demanding role.  Driving part of the decision to potentially change career paths or jobs is the fact that nearly half of those surveyed say their job is affecting their health.

These are among key findings from the 2010 Survey of Registered Nurses:  Job Satisfaction and Career Plans, conducted by AMN Healthcare (NYSE: AHS), the nation's leading provider of comprehensive healthcare staffing and management services.  The survey, which collected data from 1,399 respondents, was conducted during a period of economic recession and in the course of an ongoing national debate over healthcare reform.  The survey reflects how RNs may have altered their career plans due to the recession, how they might respond to an economic recovery, and highlights whether they believe healthcare reform will address the nurse shortage.

On the healthcare reform issue, only 6 percent of the respondents are very confident that reform will provide a mechanism for ensuring an adequate supply of nurses.  This at a time when industry data indicates the nation will face a shortage of 260,000 RNs by 2025, and Bureau of Labor Statistics shortage numbers are even higher.

"Our survey clearly indicates significant job dissatisfaction and that is concerning in terms of quality healthcare delivery," said Ralph Henderson, AMN Healthcare's Nursing and Allied Division president.  "Nurses are at the core of quality care in our nation's delivery system and if we see large numbers of nurses leaving the profession it could negatively impact patient care outcomes."

In fact, the majority of nurses (55 percent) believe that the quality of care nurses provide today has declined compared to five years ago, according to the survey.

The survey notes that 29 percent of nurses plan to take steps in the next one to three years that would reduce their role or take them out of nursing altogether.  An additional 15 percent say they will also make a change in their career path, like becoming a travel nurse or nurse practitioner.