In four decades of experience, Mercedes Herman, 58 is a registered nurse who contemplates to retire in 2010. She is planning to keep working for some more years at St. Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan. But to her, because of possible recession-driven changes, her employer-funded pension plan made her rethink of her future. Her potential retirement urged by a desire to protect an upper pension payout. This can lessen the ranks of an already overstretched workforce. Herman is a part of the union which gets 18,000 members in New York City, Long Island and Westchester of the state’s 250,000 registered nurses.

Applications for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree are being submitted at Western Illinois University. The final regulatory hurdle was cleared at Friday. This is an announcement made last Wednesday morning  at Tri States Public Radio, 320 W. University Dr by the University President Al Goldfarb and others connected with the program.  Only 30 students will be admitted first for the fall semester. Last fall, Western first offered a BS in Nursing degree for students who were previously registered nurses and six applicants are enrolled in that course. This fall, students may start as freshmen; must complete the two years of pre-nursing studies and then, they may enter the two-year nursing program that will help them qualified for a registered nurse license.

A crucial need of nurses is needed in Texas. The need of nurses there is expected to get worse in the next 20 years. The training process through either the LVN Certification or the Associate Degree in Nursing was begun by Victoria College. This is a requirement before a nurse can earn their RN license. The shortage of nurses is a double predicament.

Nursing was considered a secure career because of the oversupply of jobs. Nursing profession is a big help to economic turndown. According to Vickie Radoye, the assistant dean for student affairs at the University of Arizona's College of Nursing, the usual job fair that happened every semester was cancelled this spring because of the lack of interest from hospitals. Because of cuts to a 14-month accelerated partnership program with local hospitals, the college will now accept 48 fewer students this year.