Alabama’s Acute Care Registered Nurse Workforce Demand: A Descriptive Survey-Based Study

Background: State-level nursing workforce data are important because national-level data cannot account for the local conditions that affect workforce distributions across states. The Alabama Board of Nursing collects licensure and survey data that inform registered nurse (RN) supply. However, little is known about the demand for acute care RNs in the state. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the demand for acute care RNs in Alabama. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive design was employed. Demand for acute care RNs was determined using a voluntary Survey of Acute Care Registered Nurse Employers in Alabama 2019. Chief nursing officers (CNOs) in Alabama were invited to complete the survey between July 2019 and April 2020. Results: Twenty-five CNOs representing Alabama’s acute care hospitals completed the survey, 68% of whom reported an overall high demand with difficulty filling open acute care RN positions. That proportion increased to 80% when CNOs were queried about the demand for experienced RNs. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the increasing demand for acute care RNs in Alabama even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure patient safety and quality care in Alabama, the development of structures and processes for ongoing data collection regarding Alabama’s acute care RN workforce supply and demand should be a legislative and regulatory priority.