Nurses Needed - STAT! In an uncertain job market, the future looks bright for nurses in Southwest Florida

Last Friday, SCOPE’s Winter Forum on Aging took place at the Chelsea Center and Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care was a sponsor for the event. Almost six hours of talks and lectures brought about some key issues we are facing in our community, our need to focus on our aging population, and health care. It also brought to light some statistics that may shock some: in the United States starting in the year 2011 and through the year 2029, each day there will be 10,000 people who turn 65 years old. And with that hefty statement, there comes the continued recognition that there is a shortage of health care professionals.

This month, Biz941’s feature story “Nurses Needed - STAT: In an uncertain job market, the future looks bright for nurses in Southwest Florida,” by Brad Edmondson, highlights this predicament. Susanne S. Wise, RN, MBA, was interviewed for this article in December. This article runs in the March 2010 magazine. Susanne provided some insight and support for those who are looking to the health care field for careers and job stability. Take Care continues to hire and promote health care. Reinforcing that taking on a career in health care is not for everyone, it requires compassion, commitment, and willingness to accept change.

Here are a few highlights from the article:

The Federal government is forecasting a national need for 600,000 more RNs in the decade between 2008 and 2018. How can they be so sure? Because demographics are destiny, and healthcare spending isn’t optional. An aging population and an aging workforce are driving a national nursing shortage that seems sure to deepen.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice is starting a career training grants program that will pay tuition costs for people who want to acquire nursing skills.

This year, boomers are between the ages of 46 and 64. So while the overall population of Sarasota and Manatee counties is expected to grow about 15 percent between 2010 and 2020, the population aged 65 to 74 should grow 43 percent, according to the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

Home Healthcare Nurses
A growing number of nurses don’t work in hospitals or nursing homes. Home healthcare services were a $56 billion industry in 2008, and their revenues had more than doubled since 2000. Susanne Wise says there were perhaps two dozen small businesses supplying private duty nurses in this market when she founded Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care 15 years ago. Once a practicing nurse, she’s now the CEO of a company that has 550 employees, serves 400 clients. Take Care doesn’t bill Medicare; its clients pay with savings or insurance, so they tend to be from higher-income households.

“Everything about healthcare is a growth industry,” says Wise, “so you have to be comfortable with constant change if you want to become a nurse. You also need to have a passion for what you do-a commitment to care for others.”

Read the full article here: Nurses Needed-STAT!