Healthcare is rapidly changing. With an aging population, increased demands on the healthcare system due to the pandemic, and the emergence of new technology in nursing leading to healthcare innovation, it’s important for nurses to stay ahead of the curve.
Your knowledge of the latest nursing trends can give you an edge in the profession. If you stay on top of the latest research and nursing news, you will know what to expect in your industry, signal to your employer that you’re taking the initiative by staying up-to-date on trends, and provide better care for your patients.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the growing trends in nursing that you need to be aware of, including telehealth, emerging nurse specialties, and patient-centered care in nursing.
Growing Trends in Nursing
We’ve compiled the top three growing trends in nursing, including nursing shortages leading to increased demand for nurses, a rise in online nursing programs, and a move towards nurses’ increased practice authority.
Nursing Shortages and Increased Job Demands
Due to a higher number of retiring nurses than of those entering the field, an aging population, and demands on healthcare due to COVID-19, the nursing shortage is set to continue throughout 2023. While this places pressure on nurses who may be dealing with increased workloads, it also means there is an increased demand for nurses. Each year until 2030, there will be an estimated 194,500 job openings for registered nurses (RNs).
Since there is a market shortage of nurses, nurses' salaries have increased across the board, and some nurses have turned to travel nursing, enabling them to travel while working. For the utmost flexibility as a nurse, many are turning to PRN jobs through Nursa’s platform, which enables healthcare workers like you to find high-paying local shifts for certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and RNs.
Online Nursing Programs
There is no shortage of nursing education programs across the country, and in recent years, online nursing programs have been on the rise. This trend is set to continue in 2023, with colleges and universities offering online education for nursing students, which according to one study, resulted in instructors spending more time with students.
There are countless reasons to continue your education as a nurse and pursue advanced education in nursing, such as CNA-to-RN bridge programs, which help certified nursing assistants to become registered nurses in as little as one year.
Increased Practice Authority
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), “the overwhelming majority of NPs (nurse practitioners) are prepared and practice in primary care.” In fact, according to the AANP, nurse practitioners provide one-fifth of all primary care in the US.
The AANP advocates for supporting Full Practice Authority, a model of regulation which provides patients with full and direct access to NPs in order to expand patients’ options for healthcare providers and increase access to primary care.
In 2023, expect to see the practice authority of nurses expand as additional states adopt Full Practice Authority and tap into the expertise of nurses. According to the AANP, this legislation enables nurses to diagnose patients, initiate and manage treatments, and prescribe medications under the authority of the state board of nursing.
Telehealth in Nursing
Amongst the digital health developments in nursing and healthcare innovation, telehealth is on the rise and is quickly becoming a core component of technology in nursing contexts. Our complete guide to telehealth nursing explains that at the beginning of the pandemic, telehealth dramatically rose in popularity from 1 percent of visits to as much as 80 percent of visits in some places. Typical responsibilities of telehealth nurses include developing and implementing programs as a Telehealth Manager/ Director or a Telehealth Coordinator, being in direct contact with patients and families, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
Given the ongoing pandemic and the benefits of telehealth services, such as increased accessibility, telehealth nursing is set to continue growing this year. If this is an area of interest of yours in nursing, you can learn all about telehealth nursing certification in our helpful guide.
Emerging Nurse Specialties and Patient-Centered Care in Nursing
The demand for nurses is on the rise, and some specialties are in particular need. Here are some of the fastest-growing nursing specialties in 2023:
- Assisted Living Nursing
- Home Health Nursing
- Telehealth Nursing
- Psychiatry Health Nursing
- Emergency Room Nursing
While the majority of these nursing specialties have nurses working hands-on with patients, others, such as telehealth nursing, provide patient-centered care virtually. Across all specialties, patient-centered care is a top priority, particularly given the trend of increased practice authority for nurses, enabling nurses to become primary care providers through Full Practice Authority legislation.
For comprehensive guides on dozens of nursing specialties, refer to Nursa’s ultimate guides, which have information on the responsibilities of each specialty, average salaries, certification requirements, and more.
