Nursing Workforce Efforts Expand Across States

Nursing workforce shortages are prompting providers and policymakers to pursue solutions beyond simply filling vacancies. Nursing homes report using international recruitment, education partnerships, career development and other hiring strategies, while hospital workforce experts argue that retaining experienced nurses through career advancement and burnout prevention is essential. Nurse practitioner leaders say expanding the workforce and removing practice barriers could improve access, especially in rural and underserved communities facing shortages of primary and specialty care. In Virginia, efforts to strengthen the pipeline include scholarships, more clinical training and a new university certificate program to prepare experienced nurses to teach. Together, the reports point to recruitment, retention, expanded advanced-practice care and nursing education as complementary ways to address the workforce gap.