Experts Weigh In On Current Job Market Trends
April 27, 2021
Given the change of course that has happened in the world, we wanted to provide expert opinions on what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. We wanted to know what skills will be more important, where the economy is doing relatively well, and if there will be any lasting effects on the job market.
Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the new responsibilities of the job market. Recent graduates actually have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our Panel of Experts
Saint Xavier University
Bethune-Cookman University
The University of Rhode Island
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Michele Poradzisz Ph.D.: Nurses have always been respected and trusted, but the pandemic has given the public the chance to see nurses in a new light and appreciate them even more. People have witnessed the dedication that nurses have to their patients and profession. I believe this will motivate more people to want to join this noble profession. According to a 2020 study with The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, the average age of registered nurses is currently at 51 years, so we can expect to see a large number of nurses retiring from full-time practice over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 7% growth in the market for RNs from 2019-2029, which is faster than the average growth in any other occupation.
We are seeing an increase in the number of people with degrees in other fields who are attracted to nursing and want to change careers. Accelerated degree programs for non-nursing graduates capitalize on the individual's previous education and experience and fast-track them to a baccalaureate (BSN) or master's (MSN) degree in nursing. For example, Saint Xavier University offers an accelerated BSN program that allows students to complete the nursing program in 15 months. Cohort sizes are kept small (typically 24 students) to allow personalized attention from faculty as well as to promote strong bonds among students.
Aside from the growth in the nursing job market, a big change will be in where nurses practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to bolster public health and community health resources in the U.S. Public health nurses focus on preventive care and provide care in state and local health departments, as well as schools, community clinics and workplaces. The length of stay for patients in hospitals is continually decreasing, and many elective surgeries and procedures are now done in outpatient or ambulatory settings. More and more, hospitals will provide care for the most complex or critically ill patients, while routine care will be centered outside hospitals. In addition, the large increase in numbers of people with chronic diseases points to the need for more nurses in home care and community settings.
What technical skills for a Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Michele Poradzisz Ph.D.: Employers of new nurses typically are more interested in thinking skills rather than technical skills. Nurses must be able to apply critical thinking skills to clinical situations. Nurses are constantly called upon to problem-solve, troubleshoot and make clinical decisions under changing conditions. The faculty of the BSN program at Saint Xavier University have developed a curriculum that focuses on important concepts that apply across the lifespan and health care settings. These concepts cover a spectrum that ranges from physiological to psychological and social. Nursing students learn to apply these concepts in the classroom, lab and clinical practicum through case studies, simulated clinical situations and direct patient care. Through these activities, nursing students learn how to "think like a nurse." They have a foundation to build on as they gain practical experience in the work setting.
Employers also seek nurses who have good assessment skills. Assessment is always the starting point for nursing action and involves specific skills such as listening to heart and lung sounds, but even more importantly, assessment requires skill in therapeutic communication techniques, which are used to determine the patient's history and perceptions of their current health-related problems. In Saint Xavier's BSN program, sophomore students learn basic assessment skills that focus on a holistic approach to assessment and application to people of all ages. Students hone these skills during their clinical practicum and lab experiences in junior and senior years.
Because technology is always changing, nurses must be able to continually adapt to new equipment, computer software, and procedures. Employers know that a new nurse will not be familiar with everything, and therefore orientation to an agency always includes the policies and procedures, equipment, electronic medical record and other computer software programs used in that setting. But characteristics such as flexibility, resiliency, adaptability and compassion are key to the nurse's success. Compassion is one of Saint Xavier's core values, and our curriculum embodies the service-focused mission laid by our Sisters of Mercy so that our nurses are able to provide exemplary care.
How have salaries changed over time for Nursing Professors?
Michele Poradzisz Ph.D.: Salaries for registered nurses have increased slowly, though remain fairly stable over the past couple of years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for RNs in 2020 was $75,330 annually, or just over $36 per hour. Salaries for RNs in Illinois are near the median for the U.S. Nurses with advanced practice licensure, such as nurse practitioners, can make significantly higher salary, with a national average salary of $115,800.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Sameh Ghareeb: Two of the biggest trends in nursing jobs because of the pandemic are overtime hours and the outburst of travel nursing jobs.
The increase of numbers of admitting patients to the hospital has significantly increased the need of nurses. This made hospitals request nurses to work additional shifts, in which many nurses worked 48-60 hrs/wk.
In addition, the need for nurses, pushed hospitals to hire more nurses. But as there is a shortage in nursing, nursing travel agency work outbursts.
What technical skills for a Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Sameh Ghareeb: As hospitals had to hire more nurses, it was a challenge for employers to educate new nurses on the hospitals' documentation systems and hospital policies in a very short period. Orientation for new nurses usually takes at least a week. Because of the pandemic, educators in hospitals had to shorten orientations to be done within 1-2 days, which is a huge challenge.
How have salaries changed over time for Nursing Professors?
Sameh Ghareeb: In nursing, and because of the nursing shortage crisis, hourly payments went up significantly. Some hospitals were willing to pay around $115/hour for travel nurses.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Barbara Wolfe Ph.D.: The need for RNs and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) is in great demand. Based on data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of registered nurses (RNs) is expected to increase by 7% and the need for nurse practitioners and other APRNs is expected to increase by 45% in the next eight or so years.
There is a significant need for nursing faculty. Currently there is a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of > 7%. This will, no doubt, increase given the projected swell of retirements by 2025-as much as a third of the current faculty workforce. Thus, we will see an increase need for doctoral education to prepare these individuals for this career path.
What technical skills for a Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Barbara Wolfe Ph.D.: Health care is rapidly changing, and the pandemic has contributed to some of these changes (e.g., the use of telehealth). Employers are looking for nurses who are able to adapt, innovate, and apply not only their technical skills, but also their knowledge and critical thinking to a variety of settings--particularly since most of health care is delivered in non-hospital environments.
How have salaries changed over time for Nursing Professors?
Barbara Wolfe Ph.D.: Clinical salaries have certainly increased over time. While this is good, it has drawn individuals away from a teaching career, which needs to be addressed if we are going to meet the demand for educating future nurses. Thousands of well-qualified applicants will continue to be turned away from nursing programs if this shortage persists.
