PURPOSE
This descriptive study was conducted to project the number of critical care APNs needed in critical care units in an acute care hospital setting, up to the year 2020.
METHOD
Necessary data and information were collected from various funded reports, professional literature, web-sites and personal visits to national and private institutions. The demand of critical care APNs were projected based on two critical care APNs per critical care units.
RESULT
The projected number of critical APNs for the critical care units in acute care hospital settings as follows: 1) The total projected number of critical care APNs needed for critical care units were 1,270 in 2001. 2) By the year 2020, total number of projected critical care APNs needed in critical care units will be 1,080-1,700.
CONCLUSION
In order to match the supply to the need, the professional organization should direct their efforts toward enacting legislation. Educational systems should identify strategies in initiation of critical care APN programs in masters level as well as standardizing curriculums across the programs.
E-SUBMISSION
