Nurse workforce challenges in the United States: implications for policy
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, case study
This health working paper, authored by Linda Aiken and Robyn Cheung, analyses causes and patterns of nursing shortages and immigration in the United States and provides recommendations to address them.
The United States is expected to have a shortage of 1 million nurses by 2020, and it is already the world's largest importer of nurses. Under-investment in training capacity is identified as the main factor leading to under-supply of nurses from a domestic pool.
The report argues for public subsidies to increase production of nurses, and improved workforce management to stimulate retention. Because of the global implications of the immigration of nurses, the United States should tackle this domestic need also as part of its global health agenda.