FOREIGN TRAINED RNs NUMBERS CONTINUE TO PLUMMET

During most of the 2000s, internationally trained nurses made up about 10-15% of all new RNs that came on-line in the US. These numbers disappeared with the onset of retrogression in January 2008. The retrogression, now in its fourth year, has eviscerated the number of foreign-trained RNs.

In 2008, about 51,373 internationally educated RNs passed the NCLEX exam. In 2011, that number has been more than halved to 23,266, a drop of about 28,000. Fortunately for US healthcare users, US-educated RNs have filled half of the gap; about 14,000 more US-educated nurses now take the NCLEX-RN then did in 2008.

While the US nursing shortage certainly has eased in recent months, economists and government officials all agree that this is a temporary condition. By the end of the decade the US could be short 250,000 to 1 million nurses, depending on whose estimates you read.

NCLEX-RN Test Takers
	US Educated	Int'l Educated	Total
2008	158,385	51,373	209,758
2009	161,362	40,622	201,984
2010	167,597	30,178	197,775
2011	172,041	23,266	195,307

Source: NCSBN Fact Sheets