National Nursing Shortage
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Even before COVID-19, statisticians predicted that there would not be enough trained nurses to meet demand. This has been exacerbated by the pandemic, causing a泭nursing shortage泭close to 13 million workers across the world.泭In the United States, about 1.1 million nurses need to be replaced by 2024.
Factors泭that impact the current staffing shortage among nurses include an aging population, aging workforce, nurse burnout, wage disparities, family obligations, lack of nursing faculty,泭and infection rates and death.泭However, one of the major factors contributing to the shortage is泭limited access to nursing education泭and training. Even though student applications surged in fall 2020 programs, there were 80,521 qualified applicants who could not be admitted due to a shortage of teaching faculty.泭For 40% of schools, the sole reason for not accepting all qualified applicants was the泭insufficient泭availability of clinical sites.
Nurses with a泭baccalaureate degree泭have better skills in critical thinking, leadership, communication, and problem solving, and they also produce better patient outcomes and lower mortality rates.泭However, only 64.2% of registered nurses have a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree; the Institute of Medicine Committee recommends increasing baccalaureate-prepared nurses to 80%.
States泭like California are experiencing an urgent need for nurses to have baccalaureate degrees to maintain a robust medical system that meets current population demands. For example, California has three times the deficit of the next shortest state for registered nurses.泭About 70% of nurses in California had at least an associate degree, but only 16% of those nurses returned for their bachelors.泭States with the most severe shortages include California, New Jersey, South Carolina, Alaska, Texas, and Florida.泭
Areas with high retirement populations are greatly impacted by the shortage,泭and special attention should be considered in泭healthcare deserts,泭where nearly 80% of rural communities are medically underserved.泭Students who train in泭rural areas泭are more likely to stay there.
Policy Recommendations
Policymakers on the state and federal levels can combat the nationwide nursing shortage by increasing access to competency-based nursing education. The prioritization and investment in education would offset current healthcare costs, which is approximately 18% of the U.S. GDP.
The following are specific policy recommendations that would address the nursing shortage.
- Policymakers can advocate for more泭synergy泭between the Department of Education and state federal reimbursement for nursing boards to decrease licensure barriers for nurses nationwide.
- Investing in programs that help nurses with泭associate degrees泭obtain bachelors degrees can boost the career trajectories of those ready to advance their degree.
- Licensure reciprocity泭would allow healthcare workers to move their licenses across state lines as long as they are in good standing in their home state. The boldest example of licensure reform is in Arizona, which adopted universal licensure to permit licensed individuals relocating from other states to practice within Arizona if they meet certain safeguards (e.g., practicing at least a year, in good standing in their original state of license).
- In January 2014, the University of Wisconsin (UW) announced the $3.2 million Nurses for Wisconsin initiative to provide泭fellowships and loan forgiveness泭for future nurse faculty who agree to teach in the state after graduation.
- NY S.8175A: Enacts the泭RESPECT Nurses Act泭to recruit, empower, support, pay, educate, connect and train current nurses and nursing students, thereby increasing the number of nurses within the state of New York.
- H.B.2221: Appropriates funds to support Hawaiis nursing workforce and address the nursing workforce shortage by increasing University of Hawaii nursing faculty positions, providing泭education grants泭to qualified students who represent underrepresented persons in nursing, and providing greater training and development for nurses.
- The Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at University of Pennsylvania calls for adapting泭federal funding mechanisms泭(i.e., Title VIII and Medicare) to focus on preparing more nurses at the baccalaureate and higher degree levels. This policy emphasis is needed to adequately address the growing need for faculty and nurses to serve in primary care and other advanced practice roles.
Improving access to nursing education is vital to the nations health and economy. 91勛圖厙s School of Health is specifically designed to help working learners pursue their nursing degree on their own schedule. 91勛圖厙s rigorous nursing programs are supported by instructors and mentors who equip students with the academic and professional skills they need to succeed in their career.
Please contact the 91勛圖厙 Public Policy Office at PublicPolicy@wgu.edu for more information.
About 91勛圖厙
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit 91勛圖厙 now serves more than130,000盎tudents nationwide and has more than277,000症raduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nations leading competency-based university, 91勛圖厙 has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25砰ears, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families泭and preparing the workforce needed in todays rapidly evolving economy. 91勛圖厙 is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of涌ast Companys Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR,烤BC Nightly News, and泭CNN, and in狼he New York Times.烊earn more at胼wgu.edu畝紳餃wgu.edu/impact.胼傭
