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As more nurses retire along with the nation's aging
baby boomers, the nursing shortage is expected to become
increasingly widespread. According to the National Center
for Health Workforce Information and Analysis, the shortage
is expected to grow relatively slowly to about 12 percent
until 2010. At that point, demand will begin to exceed
supply at an accelerated rate and the shortage is expected
to jump to about 20 percent by 2015.
Some retired nurses, like Gerry McCarthy, RN, of Traverse
City, Mich., want to continue working part time to help
ease the nursing shortage, but have to limit their hours
so they don't go above the allowable earnings set by
Social Security. McCarthy, 64, retired two years ago
and works on call at Grand Traverse Pavilions, an extended
care facility.
"My goal is to make the schedule of the [staff]
nurses better by working for them so that they may have
a day off. Young mothers are especially appreciative
to be able to attend ballgames, school plays or just
be home on Halloween," McCarthy said. "It
is a rewarding way to continue investing in the field."
Until she reaches 65, McCarthy cannot earn more than
$10,800 annually without facing a 50 percent reduction
in her Social Security benefits. She would like to see
the government relax the rules on allowable earnings
for nurses who take early retirement.
"That would encourage more nurses to continue
working … as the shortage continues," she
said.
That would be good news for hospitals which, in response
to the shortage, are calling on retired nurses to work,
said Cindy Price, MA, senior public relations specialist
for the ANA. "Whenever they can get people to fill
in, they will."
But the pressure and physical toll of hospital work
does not appeal to many older nurses who might otherwise
want to stay active after they retire. The key, Snow
said, is figuring out what kinds of postretirement work
will appeal to nurses and keep them engaged, satisfied
and not overburdened.
The ANA, which recently completed a pilot survey on
the mature, experienced nurse, would like to offer some
answers soon. Results of the survey, which compiled
information on and for retiring nurses, are expected
to be released soon in the American Journal of Nursing,
as well as on the ANA Web site.
Retiree Sharon Dempsay, RN, would welcome more information.
The 62-year-old Fort Worth, Texas, resident has been
working part time in quality control since she retired
in 1999 and is keen to do more to promote nursing-but
like many others, she doesn't know where to start. Her
idea is to establish a network in her home state that
would facilitate retired nurses going to job fairs and
school career days, and would encourage the Legislature
to recruit and "push the profession back in the
limelight," she said.
"I would be very interested in being part of something
that would help the nursing profession get back on its
feet."
Terry Valiga, Ed.D., RN, director of research and professional
development at the National League for Nursing in New
York City, also would like to see a more formalized
system for engaging retired nurses-especially in education.
For nursing faculty-who are close to 50 years of age
on average, according to the National Sample Survey
of Registered Nurses-the shortage issue is even more
critical.
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