Date: 06/11/2011
Author(s): Tim Bates, Dennis Keane, Joanne Spetz
This report summarizes the findings of a survey conducted in fall 2010 of general acute care hospital employers of registered nurses (RNs) in California. This survey was designed to evaluate the overall demand for RNs in the state, and to examine the capacity of acute care hospitals to hire new RN graduates. The data obtained in this survey reveal variation in the demand for RNs across California, the lack of positions available for newly graduated RNs, and hospitals’ expectation that hiring will increase over the next two years. These data will be used to inform forecasts of future demand for RNs, and to compare these forecasts with projected supply of RNs.