Healthcare Trends in 2022
COVID-19 has had an extreme effect on healthcare workers and the healthcare system. Some of these effects are predicted to have a domino effect, leading to new changes. Healthcare trends continue to evolve in 2022, here are some changes experts are predicting:
Nursing shortages will continue as job growth rises. Nursing shortages are not a new trend of 2022, we have been experiencing this throughout 2020 & 2021 . The US Bureau of Labor Statistic projects 1.1 million new RNs are needed for expansion and replacement of retirees to avoid nursing shortage.
Nurses will continue to switch to travel nursing, travel nursing was a high demand career before COVID-19. Now with COVID-19 crisis rates, travel nursing has become a mainstream topic. Nurses are flocking from staff positions to be travel nurses thanks to the current pay opportunities and lifestyle change.
2022 is creating better retention opportunities for staff nurses, with so many staff nurses leaving their positions, facilities are going to be forced to adapt. They cannot sustain a staff made up entirely of travel nurses, forcing hospitals to come up with better pay and retention opportunities to keep staff nurses happy.
More attention will be given towards healthcare workers' mental health. The reality is that healthcare professionals are pushed now more than ever, both physically and emotionally. Hospitals and staffing agencies are stepping up to make sure their healthcare employees have the resources they need with employee assistance programs.
Projected increase in need for home health and long term care nurses. As many baby boomers reach retirement age, the need for home health services will continue to rise. Advancements in technology and healthcare have allowed people to extend their lifetimes and live longer in fragile conditions. Long term care and home health nurses will be in high demand to mitigate these changes.
Some industry altering changes are coming to the healthcare system, making 2022 sure to be a year for the books!
