RN (registered nurse) shortage in the U.S. projected to grow from 140,000 in the year 2004 to 500,000 by the year 2015 (July 2002, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services).

According to the latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published in the February 2004 Monthly Labor Review, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012.

Percentage wise, the Nursing Shortage is expected to grow from 6% in 2000 to 20% by 2015 (July 2002, U.S. Dept. of HHS)

Less than 10 percent of Nurses in the U.S. are under the age of 30, while more than 39 percent are over the age of 50 - the average age of an RN in the U.S. today is 46, in California it is closer to 51.

Multitude of factors such as 'graying' of America, decline in student enrollment etc. makes the current shortage different from previous cycles

Most experts agree that there are no short-term solution to this nursing shortage problem and that ethical recruitment of qualified international nurses is an effective and legitimate way to improve nurse staffing levels.