California ranks 48th out of the 50 states in its population of RNs. However, new enrollments demonstrate a trend toward increasing diversity. The current work force appears adequate for meeting health care needs. However, major shifts in the employment of LVNs and RNs are expected. For example, there will be decreases in the demand for LVN and RN staff positions in acute care hospitals, increases in the employment of LVNs and RN staff nurses, and increases for RNs in advanced practice roles in clinics, home care, and medical centers.
Employers indicate their intention to hire more baccalaureate prepared nurses.
There is long-term concern owing to the age of the nursing workforce. It is not known whether there is a willingness on the part of nurses to move from inpatient to outpatient sectors, or if they have the necessary skills and preparation to meet the needs of patients in those sectors. The increasing demand for nurses in outpatient settings suggests that they need a different set of skills from the hospital setting. The nursing educational system will need to respond to the changing practice scene. It appears that there is an adequate number of educational programs for advanced practice nurses at this time to meet the increased demand for clinical specialists, nurse practitioners, and case managers.