How Do We Get Teens Interested in Nursing?
The average age of registered nurses is around 44 now, and by
2010 more than 40% of them will be over 50.  The number of
nurses in the United States is supposed to peaK around 2007 and
decline steadily after that.  Meanwhile, as the population ages,
the need for nurses is expected to do nothing but rise.  According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be some 1 million
nursing jobs created between now and 2010.

Some facilities rely on retaining their existing experienced nurses,
and to a degree, that will help.  But to really address the
problem, hospitals are going to have to count on getting young
people interested in nursing careers so as to ensure a steady
supply of people to fill future positions.

We need to keep nurses and nursing in front of our young people.  
We also need to encourage teens to apply to nursing schools and
have them graduate and get them from school into the nursing
profession and work force.  Through our Junior Volunteer Program,
Macon County General Hospital is trying to impact our young people
in middle and high school levels by stimulating their interest in
nursing.  The students are taught basic nursing skills and are
allowed to observe and shadow our staff nurses.

Macon County General Hospital is eager to help our young people in
pursuing a future in nursing and see this as a way to help recruit
people into nursing for the future.
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