The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed registered nurses as the occupation with the largest projected 10-year job growth for the first time ever. The agency projects the demand for RNs will grow to 2.9 million, up 26% from 2.3 million in 2002.
The number of job openings, reflecting job growth and vacancies made by retiring nurses and those changing careers, comes in at 1.1 million.
President Bush allocated $147 million in his fiscal 2005 budget proposal for nursing workforce development, up $5 million from 2004.
