Key Nursing Industry Topics and Trends

Of all the industries affected by the 2020 pandemic, healthcare was the hardest hit of all. Consider this: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 20 million nurses across the world. Yet there is also a global shortage of nurses, and this was the case even before COVID-19 swept the planet.

The pandemic has only served to widen the gap between the need and availability of crucial healthcare workers — nurses included.

Thankfully, there are several current trends in nursing making the field more flexible and adaptable than ever. Together, these shifts may help the global nursing supply catch up to the demand and make hiring healthcare workers easier as we move out of the pandemic.

Telehealth Services are on the Rise

Technology has revolutionized nursing, and the results are more apparent than ever. Telehealth and chatbot services are among the most important trends in all of nursing. Not only do they automate aspects of nurses’ roles — they allow patients to monitor their health more effectively. From virtual video appointments, to requesting prescriptions, to receiving test results faster — online telehealth services help nurses communicate with patients and patients achieve better health outcomes.

Increased Online Educations Programs

If there’s anyone who requires flexibility in their academic journey, it’s full-time nurses. More and more, universities are providing online programs for full and part-time nurses looking to advance their careers. With nurses in high demand, virtual programs are making it easier than ever for nurses to pursue their education.

A Need for Family Nurse Practitioners

America not only has a shortage of nurses, but also doctors. This has opened the door for more nurses to become nurse practitioners, seeing patients directly. As more patients encounter difficulties making appointments with doctors — both in highly and sparsely populated areas — nurse practitioners are capable of handling the vast majority of day-to-day medical cases.

Of all the current trends in nursing for 2022, the need for nurse practitioners is among the most financially lucrative for qualified nurses.

Shortage in Nurses & The Future of Traveling Nurses

Due to the healthcare shortages noted above, nursing is becoming an increasingly travel-friendly (and even travel-necessary) profession. In 2022, we’ll see higher demand in this segment for local, domestic, and international travel. Being already one of the hottest nursing topics in 2021, travel nursing will continue to help aid in the on-going shortage of nurses nationwide.

Need for Nurse Educators

In addition to the general nursing shortage, the U.S. also lacks nursing educators who have been historically unpaid. With more than 1,700 faculty vacancies in America, the pay gap between practicing nurses and nursing educators is an ongoing problem. And since the success of the next generation of nurses depends on high-quality instructors, education programs are starting to work harder to incentivize nurses to join their faculty.

Demand for Bilingual Nurses

The ability to speak languages other than English is an increasingly desired trait in nursing. Over 400 languages are spoken across the U.S. and bilingual nurses, especially those who speak Spanish, will continue to be in demand in 2022 and beyond.

Nurses Need to be Tech-Savvy

Needless to say, technology is critical in healthcare. Current and future nurses will be expected to maintain knowledge of important technologies. Steps such as documentation, treatment research, and obtaining patient information can all be automated, saving healthcare professionals and patients precious time.

How Trends in Nursing Has Impacted Hiring & Becoming a Nurse

Hiring healthcare professionals or becoming a nurse yourself has never been a simple task. With new trends emerging in the healthcare industry for 2022, it’s more important than ever to be up-to-date with hiring trends & hot topics. We at The Judge Group can help you find healthcare jobs, provide telehealth consulting services or even help with hiring nurses.