Researchers at the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing in Columbia analyzed data on nearly 136,000 licensed nurses to examine age and geographic disparities in the state.
They found 31 percent of all nurses in the state were 55 or older. Rural counties experienced nursing shortages at a greater rate than urban counties and had a higher percentage of older nurses. In three rural counties, more than half of nurses were 55 or older.
“In some of these rural areas where nearly half of the nursing workforce is nearing retirement, now is the time to be proactive and start thinking about who is going to replace them 10 years down the road,” study author Anne Heyen, DNP, RN, an assistant teaching professor at University of Missouri’s nursing school, said in a June 14 news release.
“Whether it’s potentially partnering with community colleges in rural areas or establishing satellite campuses with dual credit options or more outreach programs, universities and their nursing schools can use this information to brainstorm solutions to assist underserved communities and provide more educational and employment opportunities to nursing students in the areas that need it most,” she added.
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