Changing Challenges and Evolving Opportunities in Nursing Education.

With more people having access to health care in the United States as a result of the Affordable Care Act, there is a greater need for nurses now than ever before. Generalist nurses will need to be educated, not just to care for people in hospitals, but also to promote health and help manage chronic conditions in a wide variety of health care settings. More advanced-practice nurses will be needed to provide primary care. Although the need for nurses educated at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in emerging health care systems is increasing, the number of nursing educators is decreasing. Nursing educators in the future will need to be nimble in addressing emerging health care needs while ensuring succession planning.