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Brian Vastag

JAMA. 2002;287:1388.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Citing continued long-term nursing shortages, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is encouraging students to consider careers in nursing and other health occupations.

A Kids Into Health Careers tool kit, unveiled by DHHS Secretary Tommy Thompson at a Washington, DC, junior high school, provides information on more than 270 health careers, such as nurse, physical therapist, x-ray technician, sports therapist, and emergency medical technician. The kit includes information on education, salary outlook, and student aid.

In tandem with the education program, the DHHS now requires organizations receiving grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration to promote health careers to youth.

The campaign arrives after data from the DHHS-conducted annual National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses showed a continuing decline in the number of new nurses. In 1980, the survey reported that 53% of registered nurses were under the age of 40; by 2000, that . . . [Full Text of this Article]