Nursing ShortageIt's likely that most people have heard about the nursing shortage for years now, and may think it has been corrected . However, the nursing profession is experiencing a recurring deficiency. According to Brian Hansen (2002), there was a national shortage of 126,000 full-time registered nurses in 2001, but this shortage will reach 808,000 by 2020 if nothing is done. This trend is a persistent cycle of numerous vacancies followed by layoffs and a high oversupply of registered nurses. Various factors contribute to the shortage of nurses within health care settings, but today's shortages are a little different. Many believe that this shortage is serious and long-lasting. The four main issues contributing to the nursing shortage are demand, supply, educational readiness, and job satisfaction. DemandThe demand for nurses is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment rates for registered nurses will increase 26% between 2010 and 2020. To meet the projected demand for nurses, a significant number of nursing graduates will be needed to fill these positions. Additionally, care will also need to be taken to fill positions with an aging nursing workforce. This coincides with the growing need for nursing faculty. . Additionally, health care reforms make health care available to more people. Therefore, this is leading to a huge surge in the need for more nurses. Aging Workforce Many nurses are simply aging and retiring. The overall age of the nursing workforce has increased steadily, from 49 years in 1993 to 54 years in 2004 for doctoral faculty and from 46 to 50 for master's faculty (“American Association,” 2005 ). Just nine percent of the current...... middle of paper ......ook Handbook: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. (March 29, 2012). Accessed October 28, 2013, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Registered-nurses.htmReport to Congress on Nursing Faculty and the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program: The Forum, conclusions and recommendations. (2010, April). Retrieved November 1, 2013, from https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/intergovernment-personnel-act/nursing.pdf So, you are a new nurse. And now ? | Scrubs – The leading nursing lifestyle magazine, featuring inspiring and informative articles about nursing. (October 21, 2010). Retrieved from http://scrubsmag.com/so-youre-a-new-nurse. -Now what/Wood, D. (2009). Why did nurses leave the profession? - Nursing Area. Accessed November 3, 2013, from http://www.nursezone.com/nursing-news-events/more-news/Why-Have-Nurses-Left-the-Profession_29118.aspx