5 Nursing and Healthcare Trends in 2024

Like in past years nursing and healthcare trends in 2024, nursing continues to evolve in response to technological advancements, demographic shifts, and emerging healthcare challenges. Several trends are shaping the landscape of nursing and healthcare.

The upward trajectory of job opportunities for nurses is set to persist

The upward trajectory of job opportunities for nurses is set to persist. Factors contributing to this trend include heightened demand for healthcare services amidst the pandemic, a decline in the number of nurse educators due to retirements, pandemic-induced burnout among nurses, the increasing healthcare needs of an aging population, the retirement of existing nursing staff, and a pronounced scarcity of nurses in rural areas.

Job growth in the nursing sector hinges on the interplay between supply and demand dynamics. According to forecasts by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses (RNs) can anticipate a 6% increase in job opportunities from 2022 to 2032, outpacing the average growth rate. Additionally, the agency anticipates a remarkable 37% surge in job prospects for advanced practice nurses during the same period.

The federal government is set to institute regulations governing staffing in nursing homes

In September 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made a groundbreaking announcement: the federal government is poised to introduce legislation aimed at overseeing staffing levels in nursing homes for the first time.

The proposed regulation seeks to enhance staffing evaluations and enforcement methods, alongside introducing new reporting obligations tied to Medicaid payments.

Under the proposed rule, a minimum staffing standard of 0.55 registered nurse (RN) hours and 2.45 nurse aide hours per resident per day is outlined by the CMS. Furthermore, the proposal earmarks $75 million for the training of nurse aides and mandates the presence of RNs round the clock in nursing home facilities.

Elaina Hall, Chief Quality Officer at SnapCare, commented on the initiative, noting its potential advantages and drawbacks. She acknowledged that while mandated staffing ratios could elevate patient care, enhance safety, and mitigate staff burnout, the financial strain on facilities poses a significant challenge.

Hall explained, “Nursing homes face financial constraints due to inadequate reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid. They struggle to afford staffing ratios and encounter regulatory hurdles with the proposed mandate. Implementing and executing this regulation would be a formidable task, as it necessitates state oversight visits to ensure compliance, presenting additional logistical and enforcement challenges.”

In essence, while the proposed legislation carries noble intentions, its practical implementation presents formidable obstacles for nursing home facilities.

Anne Dabrow Woods, who is the chief nurse at Wolters Kluwer Health, believes that nursing care models need to be adapted due to the pandemic. She has identified two key components of care delivery – the mode of delivery and the skills of nurses on the hospital unit. Dabrow Woods explained that healthcare models must move away from traditional nurse-to-patient staffing models and towards a more flexible approach that can support the best care for patients during times of crisis.

Dabrow Woods recommends a team-based approach during crisis management, which involves an increase in floating nurses. This system will enable hospitals to address future public health events or insufficient staffing, similar to what we have experienced with COVID-19. She stressed the need for flexibility and emphasized that any care model should support an organization and a nurse’s ability to deliver excellent patient care. While staffing should be based on patients’ care level and staff competency, the proposed model will be more agile and support the best care for patients during a crisis.

Nurses are positioned favorably to command higher salaries in the coming years. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the median annual wage for registered nurses (RNs) stands at $81,220, while nurse practitioners earn a median wage of $125,900 annually.

Nurses’ earnings will increase

Salary trends depicted by Statista indicate a steady increase in RN wages, rising from approximately $69,000 in 2011 to $80,000 in 2020. Forecasts suggest this upward trajectory will persist over the next decade as the demand for nurses escalates.

Moreover, hospitals, particularly in rural areas with limited resources, are enticing nursing professionals with signing bonuses, along with perks such as complimentary lodging and tuition aid.

Elaina Hall, an industry expert, predicts a rise in nurse wages propelled by the principles of supply and demand. Intense competition among hospitals for qualified nurses, compounded by a shortage of nursing school graduates, is expected to drive wage inflation.

Hall also highlights geographic disparities as a contributing factor, with smaller communities facing challenges in recruiting nurses compared to major metropolitan areas like California and New York, where collective bargaining and unionization bolster nurses’ negotiating power.

Furthermore, Hall emphasizes the influence of legislative and policy changes, such as mandated staffing ratios, which are poised to impact nurse wages significantly in the foreseeable future.

AI will be instrumental

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to shape the landscape of nursing education and healthcare, as highlighted in a March 2023 report from the National Science Foundation, which emphasizes investment in AI research and education to enhance educational equity through AI-driven learning enhancements.

The report underscores the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT to facilitate interactive learning experiences for nurses, enabling them to engage in simulated patient interviews and case studies. Moreover, AI’s capacity to automate assessments and grading processes not only saves time for nursing educators but also alleviates the burnout prevalent among them.

However, AI’s impact extends beyond mere chatbots, as noted by Elaina Hall, who emphasizes its role in clinical decision support systems and health monitoring technologies such as blood sugar monitors and wearable devices like Apple Watches.

Furthermore, Western Governors University (WGU) highlights AI’s historical significance in nursing, dating back to the early 1980s, when it began revolutionizing the profession through predictive modeling and assistive robotics. WGU underscores AI’s potential to transform various healthcare practices, including patient charting, wound care, patient transport, patient education, and medication administration.

In parallel, the well-being of healthcare staff emerges as a top priority, reflecting the interconnectedness of AI advancements and workforce satisfaction in the healthcare sector.