Community Health Nurses

Nursing specialties will be in great demand in the coming years. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. In addition to the need for nurses to fill new jobs, there will also be the need for those to replace nurses who leave the field for retirement or other work.

The outlook for community health nurses is excellent. As our population grows older, the need for community-based nursing will increase. In addition, managed care organizations will continue to need community health nurses to provide health promotion and disease prevention programs to their subscribers. The DOL offers employment predictions for registered nurses in various practice areas. Here are some of its 2023–33 predictions for RNs who work in community health areas:

• social assistance: +21.2 percent
• hospitals (state, local, and private): +4.2 percent
• continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly: +3.9 percent
• educational services (state and local): +1.4 percent