The U.S. is facing a growing nursing shortage, driven by retirements, burnout, and limited school capacity. If you’re considering a career change, an accelerated BSN program lets you become a nurse in as few as 12 to 16 months, so you can make a difference sooner.
If you’re thinking about changing careers and looking for a meaningful profession, now is a great time to become a nurse. The U.S. is experiencing a nursing shortage, and demand for nurses will continue to be high for the foreseeable future.
You can help fill this gap by becoming a registered nurse (RN). If you already have college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, the good news is that you don’t need to spend four more years in school. Thanks to accelerated nursing programs, you could earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in less than two years, depending on your previous education.
Consider the causes of the nurse shortage, the impact on the healthcare industry and patient care and how earning a BSN can help meet the challenge.
Understanding the Nursing Shortage
Is there a nursing shortage? Yes, and it impacts the healthcare industry, working nurses and patients.
What is the Nursing Shortage?
The ongoing gap between the number of nurses needed and the number available to provide care has led to a shortage of nurses. It is a systemic and long-term challenge that affects hospitals, clinics and communities nationwide.
Why It Matters Now
There is high demand for nurses with baccalaureate or graduate degrees, and that demand will continue. According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) the supply of nurses grew 1% but the demand grew 3% from 2022 to 2025. The agency projects that trend to continue.
HRSA data show that the following states have the greatest gap between supply and demand in 2025 and 2035, as well as the states with the highest projected nurse demand and supply decline from 2025 to 2035.
States with the Greatest Gap Between Nurse Supply and Demand
2025
| Rank | State | % of Demand |
| 1 | Idaho | 37.7% |
| 2 | New Mexico | 36.5% |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 31.5% |
| 4 | Virginia | 30.1% |
| 5 | South Carolina | 27.5% |
States with the Greatest Gap Between Nurse Supply and Demand
Projected 2035
| Rank | State | % of Demand |
| 1 | Washington | 21.2% |
| 2 | New Mexico | 21.1% |
| 3 | North Carolina | 21.1% |
| 4 | Maryland | 21.0% |
| 5 | South Carolina | 20.4% |
States with the Greatest Nurse Demand Growth
2025-2035
| Rank | State | % Change |
| 1 | Utah | 26.4% |
| 2 | Washington | 21.5% |
| 3 | Arizona | 19.5% |
| 4 | Colorado | 19.3% |
| 5 | Texas | 18.8% |
States with the Greatest Nurse Supply Decline
2025-2035
| Rank | State | % Change |
| 1 | District of Columbia | -16.9% |
| 2 | Alaska | -10.7% |
| 3 | Wyoming | -9.5% |
| 4 | Vermont | -5.8% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | -2.7% |
Source: U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Rendered by Find Nursing Schools.
The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey showed that nearly 40% of nurses plan to leave the workforce by 2029. This leaves a significant shortfall that new nurses can fill.
Why Nurses are In Such High Demand
There are several reasons why nurses continue to be in high demand.
Aging Workforce
Many nurses who entered the profession in the 1970s and 1980s are now approaching retirement. When nurses leave, they take their vast experience and knowledge, which creates a void. The median age of RNs was 50 in 2024, with more than half of nurses being age 50 or over, according to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey.
Challenging Working Conditions
Nursing has always been a challenging profession, but the COVID-19 pandemic and nursing shortage have led to burnout and nurses leaving the field. A 2021 study showed that 55% of healthcare workers felt burned out. Some organizations are working to address this issue. The American Nurses Association, for example, offers a burnout prevention program for members.
Limited Capacity at Traditional Nursing Schools
Despite the thousands of people who want to become nurses, many traditional nursing programs must turn them away due to faculty shortages, limited clinical placements, lack of classroom space and other factors, says the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. An accelerated BSN program can help by offering a streamlined path that leverages students’ previous education. Many such programs also offer multiple start dates each year.
The Impact of the Nursing Shortage
The ongoing nursing shortage has had a significant impact on the healthcare industry and patients. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), inadequate nurse staffing is linked to:
- Missed care
- Longer hospital stays
- Higher readmission rates
- Increased patient mortality
Healthcare organizations have had to lean into using temporary staffing solutions more, such as agency and travel nurses, which translates to higher costs and possible impacts on team dynamics and patient outcomes.
In 2021, the supply of nurses fell by 100,000. Many states have taken action to help fill this gap in the following ways:
- Creating public-private partnerships for apprenticeships, continuing education, etc.
- Funding expanded nursing education programs
- Loan repayment programs for graduates
- Mandating safe staff-to-patient ratios
- Scholarships for nursing students
You Can Be a Part of the Solution
Now is a great time to become a nurse and help fill that patient-care gap. The field is in need and you can find great career prospects.
Employment Outlook
Employment for nurses will continue to remain strong, growing 6% from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also command a healthy salary, earning a median annual wage of $93,600 as of May 2024.
Accelerated Nursing Programs Offer a Fast Track
If you have earned college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you might be eligible for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. These programs condense the essential components of a traditional BSN program into a rigorous, full-time curriculum that can be completed in 12 to 16 months, depending on prerequisites and program structure.
Most ABSN programs offer a hybrid approach that is a combination of online coursework and in-person labs and clinicals.
ABSN programs are ideal for:
- Career changers from other healthcare roles or fields like education, science, business, who want to make a difference.
- Parents re-entering the workforce and seeking a stable, in-demand profession.
- Veterans who want to continue serving people and leverage their existing skills.
- Recent graduates who’ve realized their true passion is healthcare.
- If you’re motivated, compassionate, and ready for a challenge, nursing might be the perfect fit for you.
Ready to Learn More?
Explore ABSN programs near you and discover how quickly you could launch your nursing career. Whether you’re ready to apply or just starting your research, there’s never been a better time to answer the call. Fill out the form to connect with a nursing school that could be right for you.
