his and other research suggests that the current shortage is the product of several trends including: steep population growth in several states, a diminishing pipeline of new students to nursing, a decline in RN earnings relative to other career options, an aging nursing workforce, low job satisfaction and poor working conditions that contribute to high workforce attrition rates, and an aging population that will require intense health care services. These issues are occurring just as the majority of nurses are retiring and job opportunities within health care are expanding. However, there have been recent trends of people entering the nursing profession at a later age and an increased overall interest in nursing.
