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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Adam Putnam stated on October 31, 2017 in a speech: \"The No. 1 job vacancy in Florida every month for seven years has been nursing.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" true/3d4df195c595a07e3fd69b5e4aab3e3c.jpg.\\") ![\\"true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * Public Health * Florida * Adam Putnam ![\\"Florida](\\" Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced for governor at the old Polk County Courthouse in Bartow May 10, 2017. (Tampa Bay Times) ![\\"Allison](\\" By Allison Graves November 8, 2017 # Adam Putnam right about the demand for more nurses in Florida In the Florida governor’s race, both Republicans and Democrats have highlighted an issue facing the Sunshine State: a shortage of nurses. For months now, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has highlighted a surprising factoid about Florida’s nursing workforce, often while emphasizing the importance of trade education and career training outside of a four-year bachelor’s degree. \"The No. 1 job vacancy in Florida every month for seven years has been nursing,\" Putnam said Oct. 31 during a campaign stop at Whitey\'s Fish Camp in Fleming Island. Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (and Putnam’s possible opponent) has also mentioned a nursing shortage in the state, so we wanted to take a look at it. We found that Putnam’s claim is backed up by state data, and experts in Florida agreed that the shortage of nurses has been a problem since the 1990s. Nurses (most) wanted Data from the Department of Economic Opportunity shows that registered nurses have consistently topped the lists of monthly online job advertisements and annual job openings. Department spokeswoman Karen Smith told PolitiFact Florida the top online job advertisement in Florida has been registered nurses every month for the past seven years. We asked for a sample of that data and got a year’s worth of monthly reports for Help Wanted OnLine, a tool used by the Department to measure real-time labor demand. These reports are posted on the DEO’s site and updated monthly. The most recent month of data (October 2017) shows there were 13,619 online ads placed for registered nurses. The second-most popular ads sought retail salespersons at 7,207 postings, followed by \"first-line supervisors\" for retail sales workers with 6,467 ads. Putnam has also talked about the need for truck drivers, which place fourth for online job ads. In addition, Florida\'s Statewide Demand Occupations List shows that registered nurses have consistently ranked as the most in-demand occupation since at least 2011. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Jeffrey Barke stated on August 23, 2024 in an Instagram post Food and Drug Administration approval for updated COVID-19 vaccines requires a public health emergency declaration. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Jeff Cercone • August 27, 2024 Mary Lou Brunell is the executive director of the Florida Center for Nursing, which was set up in 2001 by the Florida Legislature to address the nursing shortages in the state. In recent years, she said the problem has been exacerbated by a lack of students studying to become nurses, a shortage of faculty teaching future students, and an aging workforce and state population. \"You put all those pieces together, and it’s just not getting better,\" said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, the former dean at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. The nursing workforce is also aging. According to a 2017 report from the Florida Center for Nursing, 44 percent of registered nurses are over the age of 50 and expected to retire in the next 5 to 10 years. The economic turnaround in the late 2000s also decreased the number of nurses in the workforce. When the economy plummeted in 2008, many people trained in nursing but not working returned to their job or delayed retirement. As the economy improved, there were once again more vacancies because those nurses returned home or retired. Brunell also said she’s also concerned about the need for licensed practical nurses, which work under the guidance of registered nurses or physicians. She said there’s been an increase in home care facilities, which is why she predicts more licensed practical nurses (LPNs) will be needed in the future. Morrison-Beedy said that in order to fix the problem, the focus has to be on the how to develop faculty and support for people who want to become nurses. In Florida, becoming a registered nurse requires either a two-year associate degree or a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing. \"We need more students in the baccalaureate program, we need to provide financial support for students to go to school, and in order to do that we have to have enough faculty to teach those students,\" she said. \"We want the best educated and the best kind of nurses because that’s where we’ll see better outcomes.\" Our ruling Putnam said the No. 1 job vacancy in Florida every month for seven years has been nursing. He’s right. The top online job advertisement in Florida has been registered nurses every month for the past seven years. Experts agreed that the shortage has been an issue for awhile in Florida. We rate this claim True. Share the Facts 2017-11-08 21:37:51 UTC PolitiFact ![\\"PolitiFact\\"](\\" logo-big.jpg\\"/) 6 1 7 ![\\"PolitiFact](\\" true.png\\") PolitiFact Rating: True \"The No. 1 job vacancy in Florida every month for seven years has been nursing.\" Adam Putnam Gubernatorial candidate ![](\\" in a speech Tuesday, October 31, 2017 2017-10-31 Read More info #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Interview, executive director of the Florida Center for Nursing Mary Lou Brunell, Nov. 6 Interview, Dianne Morrison-Beedy, professor of Nursing Education and former dean at he University of South Florida College of Nursing Email exchange, Karen Smith, spokeswoman for the DEO, Nov. 6 and 7 Email exchange, Adam Putnam spokeswoman, Amanda Bevis, Nov. 6 Facebook live with Adam Putnam, Oct. 31 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Allison Graves slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 15, 2018 in a post on Facebook: \"Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier: Donald Trump might become \'The Greatest Of All Time.\' \" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" The Collective super PAC stated on May 11, 2018 in an ad: Says Gwen Graham \"voted against President Obama 52 percent of the time.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 14, 2018 in a post on the Internet: Says Julia Roberts told Celine Dion, \"If you hate Trump you can go in your country.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Democratic Governors Association stated on July 13, 2018 in a post on Medium: Says Adam Putnam \"backed a water bill that gutted water quality regulations.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • July 18, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Rick Scott stated on June 13, 2018 in an ad: Says Sen. Bill Nelson \"voted for higher taxes\" 349 times. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Allison Graves • July 5, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on June 28, 2018 in a Fox News debate: Says Adam Putnam \"endorsed the Schumer-Obama Gang of Eight immigration amnesty.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 29, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bill Nelson stated on June 21, 2018 in an ad: Says he \"actually wrote the bipartisan law that makes it illegal to drill off Florida’s coast.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 29, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Adam Putnam stated on June 7, 2018 in an interview with Fox News: Florida taxpayers \"pay tens of millions of dollars a year to feed and house in our prison system criminal illegal aliens.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 26, 2018 ![](\\" mugs-Anonymous_people_/398fc0baac700f9aa5dd88786f3cd62e.jpg\\") ![](\\" mugs-Anonymous_people_/d0c13da11ad4bc5f48f6b798046f5ef9.jpg\\") New Republican PAC stated on June 11, 2018 in a political ad: Says Bill Nelson voted for \"cuts to Medicare providers\" and voted to weaken \"Social Security protections\" as a U.S. senator. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Andrew Gillum stated on June 20, 2018 in a debate: Under Philip Levine, Miami Beach \"passed a resolution to ban assault rifles, which was not enforceable and never enforced. He passed a resolution to raise the minimum wage, which actually no one got the benefit of because it was not enforced.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 9, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Florida Democratic Party stated on June 6, 2018 in in a press release: \"Flip Flop! After opposing term limits for decades, Adam Putnam adopts Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis’ position.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 8, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on June 2, 2018 in during a BBQ : \"The bulk of the problem with the opioid epidemic is the fentanyl and all the synthetic drugs coming across the southern border.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 7, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Florida House Majority Office stated on May 17, 2018 in a video: It is a \"myth\" that \"per-student funding only rose by 47 cents this year.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 30, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Senate Majority PAC stated on May 21, 2018 in in an ad: Says Bill Nelson is \"one of America’s most independent senators.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 24, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 14, 2018 in a post on Facebook: \"BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump On His Way To Donate Kidney To Melania Trump.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 15, 2018 in a post on Facebook: \"Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier: Donald Trump might become \'The Greatest Of All Time.\' \" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" The Collective super PAC stated on May 11, 2018 in an ad: Says Gwen Graham \"voted against President Obama 52 percent of the time.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 14, 2018 in a post on the Internet: Says Julia Roberts told Celine Dion, \"If you hate Trump you can go in your country.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Democratic Governors Association stated on July 13, 2018 in a post on Medium: Says Adam Putnam \"backed a water bill that gutted water quality regulations.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • July 18, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Rick Scott stated on June 13, 2018 in an ad: Says Sen. Bill Nelson \"voted for higher taxes\" 349 times. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Allison Graves • July 5, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on June 28, 2018 in a Fox News debate: Says Adam Putnam \"endorsed the Schumer-Obama Gang of Eight immigration amnesty.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 29, 2018 ### Adam Putnam right about the demand for more nurses in Florida * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 16, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Country Music Television (CMT) has announced a permanent boycott of Taylor Swift.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 11, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Disney World officially moving to Nashville.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Bernie Moreno stated on September 9, 2024 in an Instagram post: “Illegal” Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are “reportedly killing and eating pets.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Seth A. Richardson • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 17, 2024 in an Instagram post: Karine Jean-Pierre, President Joe Biden’s press secretary, ended a press conference when a reporter asked about Donald Trump’s assassination attempt. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a post on Threads: An image shows Taylor Swift responding to Elon Musk\'s X post about giving her a child by saying she\'s happy to take his daughter Vivian and ‘give her all the love and respect she deserves.’ ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Andy Nguyen • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Tony Perkins stated on September 11, 2024 in a Facebook post: “In 12 states, children born alive after a failed abortion have no legal protection, and in three more states children born alive after an abortion had legal rights that governors — like Tim Walz — repealed.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sara Swann • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 16, 2024 in Threads post: Images show Sean Combs’ booking photos after Sept. 16 arrest. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on August 28, 2024 in an ad: “Kamala Harris has promised amnesty for the 10 million illegals she allowed in as border czar, making them eligible for Social Security. Studies warn this will lead to cuts in your Social Security benefits.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Maria Ramirez Uribe • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 13, 2024 in a rally in Las Vegas: Vice President Kamala Harris is “talking about bringing back the draft.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 18, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 15, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: \"ABC elimina a los moderadores del debate David Muir y Linsey Davis\". ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • September 18, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. 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The No 1 job vacancy in Florida every month for seven years has been nursing