But Philippines nurses welcome the chance to work at U.S. hospitals, he said. As the nurse supply shrinks, the demand for them will grow. Aging baby boomers and a swelling population are putting a burden on the health care system. Years ago, the profession was one of but a few professions open to women. With far more options, women are overlooking nursing.
More people have health insurance, and use it.
While hospitals around the state, including those in Corpus Christi, recruited nurses from other countries, that's no longer a solution. The shortage is global and many countries are working to keep their nurses. As the number of health maintenance organizations grew in the mid-1990s, nurse employment growth slowed. Most nurses left the field for other careers. But officials say they are most alarmed by the number of nurses and nursing faculty nearing retirement age.