How the Affordable Care Act Affects Nurses

The Affordable Care Act brought nurses a mix of good news, bad news, and a few surprises. The ACA, also known as Obamacare, is in full effect, and its impact on the largest group of healthcare professionals is now clear. Job growth is up. So are patient loads, which cuts into the time nurses can spend with each patient. Here's how nurses are faring.

What Has Changed

More patients, and sicker ones, entered the system. The ACA added new patients, as expected. What wasn't expected: many arrived with chronic illnesses they'd neglected for years and now needed heavy care. "Some haven't had care in a long time (or ever). Some may have pre-existing conditions that enabled insurance companies to refuse them coverage. As they enter my care, their needs may be more complicated," says Amy Dertz, a registered nurse in Oakland, California. That extra care strains nurses and hospitals.

Emergency room visits went up, not down. Uninsured patients once avoided the ER. Now that more people carry insurance, some facilities see more ER visits, which pushes up wait times and patient loads for nurses and doctors.

Care shifted away from hospitals. To cut costs, the ACA pushes care out of hospitals and into outpatient and community settings. That creates more outpatient jobs for nurses and fewer inpatient ones. "If the ACA is successful in contributing to keeping patients out of the hospital, inpatient care will be reserved for patients with acute, severe illnesses and the number of hospital nurses will drop dramatically," Dertz says. Her hospital has already proposed nursing cuts, leaving nurses to do more with fewer resources.

The Job Outlook for Nurses

Strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse employment to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Two forces drive it. As baby boomers age, demand for care rises, especially geriatric nursing. And as care moves into the community, nurses gain more places to work. Community health centers alone have added thousands of nursing positions since the ACA began, with high demand for nurses in home care, care management, case management, and community health. For nurses looking to advance their training in these areas, the ACA helps cover training costs.