U.S. RNs Encouraged to Contribute to National Workforce Research

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Dec 6, 2012) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), www.ncsbn.org, and the Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, http://nursingworkforcecenters.org, will conduct a national survey of registered nurses (RNs) beginning in January 2013.

All RNs in the U.S. with active RN licenses are eligible candidates for survey participation. A random sample of this population will be chosen to participate. Nurses who receive the survey are strongly encouraged to provide information such as basic demographic and professional data (e.g., age, year licensed, etc.) even if they are now employed in another profession or are retired. All responses will be kept confidential and data will only be reported in the aggregate.

The results of this survey are especially valuable in light of several factors. One is that no national source of current, complete and consistent information for nursing workforce data exists and this survey has the potential to fill that void. Also, the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will insure more than 30 million U.S. residents who will seek health care in the years ahead. Additionally, the aging U.S. population means there will be an increased demand for nursing services in coming years. It is possible that the predicted shortfall of qualified nurses to care for this population will occur and will have a major impact on health care delivery in the future.

An adequate supply of RNs in the workforce is one of the essential components of a safe and effective health care system. Information from RNs selected to respond to this survey have a unique chance to contribute to this invaluable study, the results of which can be used to predict possible shortages and assist in the allocation of resources, program development decisions, and recruitment efforts in both the health care system and education sectors.

About NCSBN

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 12 associate members. Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

About Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers

The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers is a national group of nurse workforce entities that focus on addressing the nursing shortage within each state and contributes to the national effort to assure an adequate supply of qualified nurses to meet the health needs of the US population. The Forum supports the advancement of new as well as existing nurse workforce initiatives and shares best practices in nursing workforce research, workforce planning, workforce development, and formulation of workforce policy. We share information in three major ways: through publications, via annual conferences, and by way of a virtual network located at http://NursingWorkforceCenters.org.