Nursing shortage in US: Opportunities and Scope

The United States has been facing nursing staff shortage for years. This issue, already pressing, is set to escalate in the coming years as the demand for healthcare services rises while the supply of qualified nurses remains insufficient. As new government potentially re-engages in shaping U.S. policy, addressing this challenge will be crucial to maintaining the nation's healthcare infrastructure.

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Understanding the Nursing Shortage

The United States is anticipated to face a growing shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs), driven by the aging Baby Boomer population and the increasing demand for healthcare services. This challenge is further exacerbated by the limited capacity of nursing schools nationwide to accommodate the rising demand for skilled nursing professionals.

Nursing shortage statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections for 2022-2032 estimate a 6% growth in the Registered Nursing (RN) workforce over the next decade. This growth is expected to increase the Registered Nursing workforce from 3.1 million in 2022 to 3.3 million in 2032, adding more than 170,000 nurses. Additionally, the Bureau projects an average of 193,000 RN job openings annually through 2032, accounting for retirements and workforce exits contributing to the demand for nurses in the United States.
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) workforce, encompassing Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Midwives, is expected to experience a remarkable 38% growth from 2022 to 2032, far outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. To meet the increasing demand in healthcare, approximately 29,000 new APRNs, trained through master’s and doctoral programs, will be needed annually through 2032.
A Health Workforce Analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in November 2022 projects a shortage of more than 78,000 full-time RNs by 2025, decreasing to 63,000 by 2030. By 2035, the ten states expected to face the most significant nursing shortages;
Washington (26%)
Georgia (21%)
California (18%)
Oregon (16%)
Michigan (15%)
Idaho (15%)
Louisiana (13%)
North Carolina (13%)
New Jersey (12%)
South Carolina (11%).
In April 2022, Peter I. Buerhaus and colleagues published a nursing workforce analysis in Health Affairs, revealing that the total supply of registered nurses decreased by over 100,000 between 2020 and 2021 — the largest decline observed in the past four decades. Notably, a significant portion of nurses who exited the workforce were under the age of 35, with the majority employed in hospitals.
In March 2023, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) released a report urging the global nursing shortage to be recognized as a global health emergency. The report, titled Recover to Rebuild: Investing in the Nursing Workforce for Health System Effectiveness, underscores the pandemic's significant impact on the nursing workforce, highlighting issues such as nurse burnout and diminished access to care. The authors emphasize the urgent need to protect and invest in nurses as a cornerstone for health system recovery.

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Consequences of Nursing shortage

Enrollment in nursing schools are not increasing quickly enough to keep pace with the anticipated demand for RN and APRN services

Enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs grew by 0.3% in 2023, but reported declines of 3.1% in PhD programs and 0.9% in master's nursing programs. These trends have sparked concerns about the ability of nursing schools to address the growing demand for nursing services, particularly in the areas of nurse faculty, researchers, and primary care providers.

Nursing Faculty shortage

The shortage of nursing faculty across the U.S. is severely constraining the capacity of nursing programs, reflecting the broader global shortage of nursing professionals. In fact, U.S. nursing schools turned away over 65,000 qualified applicants due to the lack of faculty and clinical sites.

This faculty shortage arises from two primary factors: the aging of senior faculty members who are retiring, and the higher monetary compensation available for clinical and advanced practice nursing roles, which draws many advanced practice nurses toward Registered Nurse positions rather than academic or faculty roles.

Insufficient staffing impacting job satisfaction

Insufficient staffing is taking a toll on nurses, significantly increasing their stress levels. This not only affects job satisfaction and productivity but is also driving many nurses to consider leaving the profession. Despite competitive pay, reasonable workloads, and improved work-life balance initiatives, the strain of inadequate staffing remains a major concern. According to research conducted by the American Nurses Foundation and the American Nurses Association in March 2022, 52% of nurses are contemplating leaving the profession due to staffing shortages.

Strategies to Overcome the Nursing Shortage

Immigrant nurses play a vital role in addressing the nursing shortage in the United States. Currently, there are over 500,000 immigrant nurses in the United States. According to the American Hospital Association's Annual Survey, the percentage of hospitals hiring foreign-educated Registered Nurses has doubled between 2010 and 2022, reflecting the growing reliance on immigrant talent to fill critical gaps in healthcare staffing.

To further address this issue, the United States should consider policy changes aimed at streamlining the hiring of immigrant nurses. Proposals such as introducing a new visa category specifically for foreign direct care workers or offering permanent residency to immigrant healthcare professionals could be effective solutions.

Nurses from countries like India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nigeria have immense opportunities to advance their careers in the United States. However, the rising demand for nurses also brings challenges, such as labor trafficking and visa fraud. Aspiring immigrant nurses must make informed choices and seek trusted programs to ensure a secure and successful transition. This is where BridgeWay can help you.

BridgeWay offers top-tier nursing programs designed to equip nurses with exceptional skills and unwavering compassion, ensuring quality care despite the ongoing shortage. BridgeWay offers Nursing Scholarships for Masters in Nursing in USA, designed for aspiring nurses with big dreams for their careers. Over the past three years, BridgeWay has awarded scholarships to more than 200 students. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive support and guidance to help you make informed decisions and take confident steps toward a successful nursing career.