After years of steady falls, Australia's nursing supply
stabilised in 2001, according to a new report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Nursing Labour Force 2002 shows that the nursing supply
in Australia was 1,024 full-time equivalent (FTE) nurses per
100,000 population in 2001, the same as in 1999.
But supply was still down on the 1995 figure of 1,127 FTE nurses
per 100,000 population.
Head of the AIHW's Labour Force and Rural Health Unit, Glenice
Taylor, said, however, that preliminary nurse registration data for
2002 showed an upturn in nursing numbers could be on the way.
'Our preliminary 2002 registration figures include multiple
registrations (nurses enrolled in more than one state/territory)
which means we cannot yet be absolutely sure of an increase in
overall numbers for 2002, but it is highly likely.'
The report shows a 1.2% increase in the total number of
registered and enrolled nurses between 1999 and 2001, to just over
260,000 nurses. This figure includes nurses in the nursing labour
force (91%) as well as nurses not working in nursing.
'There was little change in average hours worked by nurses per
week (30.5 hours in 2001 compared with 30.2 hours in 1999)', Ms
Taylor said.
'The increase in nursing numbers was enough to keep up with
population growth though, so that the overall nursing supply
remained stable.'
Nursing Labour Force 2002 shows changes in nursing numbers in
the various clinical areas between 1997 and 2001. There was a 19.9%
rise in the number of nurses working in medical areas (to 20,500
nurses in 2001). Increases were also recorded in critical
care/intensive care (a 12.6% rise to 10,700 nurses),
casualty/accident/emergency (a 22.7% rise to 7,500 nurses) and
perioperative/operating theatre/recovery (a 9.2% rise to 15,256
nurses).
Areas to experience falls in numbers over the four years
included geriatrics/gerontology (aged care) (an 8.7% fall to 32,200
nurses), and mixed medical and surgical (a 9.8% fall to 26,400
nurses).
Between 1995 and 2001 the numbers of employed nurses rose in all
states and territories except Tasmania and Victoria, where raw
numbers fell by 12.5% and 0.2% respectively. In terms of nursing
supply, all states and territories experienced decreases except the
Australian Capital Territory, where supply rose from 1,020 to 1,050
FTE per 100,000 population.
The nursing workforce continued to age, with an average age of
42.2 years in 2001 compared with 39.3 years in 1995. Nearly 42% of
nurses were aged 45 years or more in 2001.
17 December 2003
Further information: Ms Glenice Taylor, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1153
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.