WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF REGISTERED NURSES

Some six years ago the World Health Organization (WHO) established a program to retrieve data on the numbers of practicing nurses in the world. The results came as no surprise. There are and continue to be too few nurses for over-worked health care systems world-wide. Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations; job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough RNs. See more at the US Department of Labor web site.

Australia has a system loosely based on an older British model of apprenticeship. A so-called "enrolled nurse" works along side a registered nurse, learning the ropes. Indigenous populations, such as those in Australia, are virtually always in need of more nurses (read more).

Primary health care in Zimbabwe made its first appearance in 1980 when that country became independent. Success of the health system in Zimbabwe relies heavily on its nurses, who must teach self-care and impress upon their patients the importance of prevention. But, more recently, the health system in Zimbabwe appears to be in trouble (see recent New York Times article).

Here are some other resources where you can learn more about a career as a registered nurse: All Nurses.com and Nursing World.

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