New Gillibrand Report: More Than 100,000 Additional Nurses Needed Across New York State in 2020

Press Release

According to a new report released by U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York State is projected to need an additional 105,739 nurses by 2020. In response to the growing need for nurses statewide, Senator Gillibrand today unveiled plans to create more educational opportunities at nursing institutions, train more nursing instructors, and incentivize new nurses to work in underserved areas.

"We cannot fix health care if we do not address America's nursing shortage," Senator Gillibrand said. "The root of the problem is that nursing institutions across the state lack the faculty and space they need to train the next generations of nurses we need to provide quality care. My plan will deliver the right mix of incentives and resources to make sure every corner of New York has the nurses we need to provide quality care to our children and families over the next decade."

According to the Center for Health Workforce Studies, New York has substantially fewer registered nurses per capita than the national average. Nursing institutions across New York report that lack of nursing instructors and limited physical space force them to turn down qualified nursing applicants every year (see report for more details). Making the problem worse, nearly 20 percent of current nurses are over the age of 55 and will likely enter retirement over the next decade. Statewide, New York's current vacancy rate for nurses is approximately 8.6 percent. In 10 years, New York State will need 105,739 additional nurses to provide quality care.

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