If you are already enrolled in a nurse practicioner programs, or have considered checking out one of the nurse practitioner programs online, then you may be surprised to learn that the field of nursing may actually shrink in the short term. This is precisely what is happening in California, and you can veiw the complete article at
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/03/08/nursing-home-industry-a-big-employer.html.
California has the largest economy of any state, and it pay a whopping $18 billion for nurses annually, most of them by affluent elderly persons needing an extra pair of hands. On the other hand, many nurses are paid by Medicare, and the legislature of California, along with Governor Brown, want to cut this sector of Medicare spending by 10 percent. This would mean nurses would loose millions in potential earnings, and would therefore be stuck working fewer hours, although most of them will probably keep their jobs.
The article assumes that the 18 billion is provided by medicare, but it probably comes partially from out-of-pocket payments. The cut to Medicare would not prevent recipients from having access to nurses, but would force them to economize. Either the difference will be made out of pocket, or the seniors of California will learn thrift in a lean era.
California has assumed debt for years on liberal spending, and now suffers the crunch of fewer taxes. The lesson for future nurses is that the industry is driven heavily by government subsidy, and when that subsidy can no longer be afforded, job opportunities will dry up.
