There's a national nursing shortage across the country and it's having a trickle down effect right here in Nebraska.
By 2020, Nebraska is expected to be short about 4,000 nurses.
There is a larger need for nurses than ever before. An aging population, plus a retiring workforce are all contributing factors.
We spoke to nursing educators at Clarkson College, and they say there's a dire need to replace many of the nurses who'll be retiring soon.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says registered nursing is among the top occupations in terms of job growth, and it's expected to stay that way through 2026.
Marsha Craven is the director of undergrad nursing at Clarkson, she tells us they hope to continue producing quality nurses who have a passion for caring for others.
"You want them to have that passion to be a nurse but even though there is a nursing shortage, there's so many different opportunities for them. There's so many different areas of nursing they can go into." Craven said.
Cravens adds there are many specialty areas within nursing and a variety of environments, like hospitals versus clinics they can work in. She says flexible hours also attract some to the profession.
Since nursing is such a competitive profession, educators say it's important for potential students to begin learning math and science skills they'll need in high school.
