The United States now has a shortage of 193,100 registered nurses, the largest gap on record. This crisis is accelerating patient mortality, delaying surgeries, and driving billions in hospital costs.
Key Takeaways
- Aging workforce: 1 in 3 US RNs over 50 in 2023, 300,000 retirements expected by 2030
- In 2023, the United States experienced a registered nurse (RN) shortage of 193,100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), marking the largest gap since tracking began in 2011
- Nurse shortage linked to 7.5% increase in patient mortality per 10% vacancy rise
- By 2030, the US is projected to face a shortage of 440,000 RNs, with demand outpacing supply by 15%
- Federal loan forgiveness: $1.2B awarded to 150,000 nurses 2023 to combat shortages
Nursing shortages remain severe, with staffing gaps worsening care access and increasing workload nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Causes of Shortage22 stats
01
Aging workforce: 1 in 3 US RNs over 50 in 2023, 300,000 retirements expected by 2030
02
Burnout affected 62% of nurses in 2023, leading to 100,000 resignations post-COVID
03
Insufficient staffing cited by 85% of nurses as top reason for leaving in 2024 surveys
04
Nursing school capacity shortfall: 91,648 qualified applicants denied entry in 2023 due to faculty shortages
05
Faculty shortage: Only 1,766 full-time doctoral nursing faculty budgeted in 2023, need doubles
06
Poor work-life balance drove 47% of RN turnover in 2023, per NSI data
07
COVID-19 accelerated retirements: 20% more nurses retired early 2021-2023
08
Low pay relative to workload: Median RN salary $81,220but 30% consider leaving for better pay
09
Violence in workplace: 44% of nurses experienced assault in 2023, contributing to shortages
10
Education pipeline bottleneck: BSN programs turned away 50,000 applicants in 2023 due to clinical placement lacks
11
Rural retention issues: 25% higher turnover in rural vs urban due to isolation
12
Pandemic moral injury: 35% nurses report PTSD symptoms leading to career exit
13
Lack of advancement: 40% nurses cite no career ladder as exit reason
14
High student debt: Average $40,000debt for BSN grads deters entry
15
Gender imbalance: 87% female workforce faces childcare barriers, 15% attrition factor
16
Scope of practice limits: APRNs underutilized in 27 states, worsening shortages
17
Travel nursing poaching: 40% hospitals lost staff to agencies paying 2x salary in 2023
18
Immigration barriers: Only 5% foreign nurses enter US annually due to visa caps
19
Preceptor shortages: 60% new grads lack mentors, increasing failure rates 20%
20
Shift length fatigue: 70% nurses work 12+ hours, 25% burnout rate higher
21
Diversity gap: Only 19% non-white RNs despite 40% diverse population, retention 10% lower
22
Tech overload: 50% nurses spend more time on EHRs than patients, dissatisfaction 30%
Interpretation
Causes of Shortage Interpretation
The healthcare system is hemorrhaging its lifeblood as a perfect storm of an aging workforce, suffocating burnout, institutional bottlenecks, and profound workplace dissatisfaction pushes nurses out faster than they can possibly be replaced.
02 · Category
Current Shortage Numbers30 stats
01
In 2023, the United States experienced a registered nurse (RN) shortage of 193,100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), marking the largest gap since tracking began in 2011
02
As of 2024, 48 out of 50 states in the US report measurable RN shortages, with vacancy rates exceeding 10% in over 75% of hospitals nationwide
03
California had a shortage of 44,500 FTE RNs in 2023, accounting for 17% of the national total shortage and driven by high patient demand
04
New York State's hospital RN vacancy rate reached 15.2% in Q1 2024, equating to over 20,000 unfilled positions
05
Texas reported 29,000 RN vacancies in 2023, with rural areas facing up to 25% shortages compared to 12% in urban centers
06
Florida's nursing shortage hit 59,100 FTEs by end of 2023, exacerbated by population growth and retirements
07
In 2024, Michigan hospitals had a 13.4% RN vacancy rate, leading to 12,500 open positions statewide
08
Pennsylvania faced 18,000 RN shortages in 2023, with ICU units at 22% vacancy
09
Ohio's RN shortage stood at 15,200 FTEs in 2024, primarily in long-term care facilities at 19% vacancy
10
Illinois reported 22,100 RN vacancies as of mid-2024, with Chicago metro area contributing 60% of the gap
11
Georgia had a 14.8% hospital RN vacancy rate in 2023, totaling 11,000 shortages
12
North Carolina's shortage reached 10,500 FTE RNs in 2024, with eastern rural counties at 28% vacancy
13
Washington's RN shortage was 8,900 FTEs in 2023, highest in Seattle hospitals at 16%
14
Massachusetts reported 7,200 RN vacancies in Q2 2024, with turnover rate at 18.5%
15
Arizona's nursing shortage hit 9,100 FTEs in 2023, driven by retirements in Phoenix area
16
Nevada faced 5,600 RN shortages in 2024, with Las Vegas casinos hotels reporting 20% gaps
17
Oregon's vacancy rate for RNs was 12.7% in 2023, equating to 4,800 positions
18
Colorado reported 6,200 RN FTE shortages in 2024, concentrated in Denver metro
19
Indiana had 9,800 RN vacancies statewide in 2023, rural areas 24% short
20
Missouri's RN shortage was 7,500 FTEs in 2024, St. Louis at 15% vacancy
21
Wisconsin reported 5,900 RN shortages in 2023, Milwaukee hospitals 14% understaffed
22
Minnesota had 4,200 FTE RN gaps in 2024, with 11% vacancy in rural clinics
23
Iowa's nursing shortage reached 3,800 RNs in 2023, Des Moines 13% short
24
Kansas reported 4,100 RN vacancies in 2024, Wichita area 16% vacancy rate
25
Nebraska had 2,900 FTE shortages for RNs in 2023, Omaha hospitals impacted most
26
South Dakota faced 1,800 RN shortages in 2024, rural vacancy at 22%
27
North Dakota reported 1,500 RN FTE gaps in 2023, highest per capita in US
28
Montana's RN shortage was 1,200 in 2024, Billings 18% understaffed
29
Alaska had 1,100 RN vacancies in 2023, Anchorage rural mix at 25% gap
30
Hawaii reported 900 FTE RN shortages in 2024, Oahu hospitals 12% short
Interpretation
Current Shortage Numbers Interpretation
The American healthcare system is currently running a nationwide fever of 193,100 missing nurses, a glaring symptom that patient care is being triaged against a spreadsheet.
03 · Category
Impacts of Shortage20 stats
01
Nurse shortage linked to 7.5% increase in patient mortality per 10% vacancy rise
02
Hospitals with >10% RN vacancy see 20% higher readmission rates, costing $2B annually
03
Shortage causes 15-minute longer ER wait times on average in 2024
04
Understaffing associated with 25% more patient falls per shift in hospitals
05
Medicare penalties for shortages: $500M in fines 2023 due to staffing violations
06
Burnout spillover: Short-staffed units see 30% higher medication errors
07
Rural hospital closures: 136 since 2010 linked to nursing shortages, impacting 3M patients
08
Cost per vacancy: $50,000-$100,000 overtime per RN position unfilled annually
09
Patient satisfaction drops 18% in understaffed hospitals per HCAHPS scores
10
Sepsis mortality up 12% in short-staffed ICUs
11
Delayed surgeries: 1M procedures postponed 2023 due to OR nurse shortages
12
Long-term care: 40% facilities violate staffing minimums, elder abuse reports up 15%
13
ED boarding: 2.4M patients boarded 2023 due to inpatient nurse shortages
14
Infection rates: CAUTI up 22% in low-staff units
15
Mental health access: 25% fewer psych beds staffed adequately, suicide waits up
16
Home care gaps: 30% more hospitalizations for chronic patients due to nurse lacks
17
Pediatric errors: 15% higher adverse events in short-staffed peds units
18
Economic loss: $7.9B in overtime costs for hospitals 2023 from shortages
19
Provider burnout: Physicians report 20% higher stress from nurse shortages
20
Travel nurse dependency: 20% of hospital staff temps in 2024, inflating costs 48%
Interpretation
Impacts of Shortage Interpretation
The nursing shortage isn't just a statistic; it’s a ghost in the hospital machine whose signature is a trail of human and fiscal casualties, from patient deaths and billion-dollar fines to boarded emergency rooms and heartbreaking lapses in care for our most vulnerable.
More related reading
04 · Category
Projected Shortages27 stats
01
By 2030, the US is projected to face a shortage of 440,000 RNs, with demand outpacing supply by 15%
02
NCSBN forecasts a global shortage of 5.7 million nurses by 2030, US contributing 1.1 million to the gap
03
HRSA predicts US RN shortage of 193,100 FTEs by 2025, escalating to 450,000 by 2030 in hospitals
04
AMN Healthcare projects 200,000 RN openings annually from 2023-2032 due to retirements and growth
05
By 2034, US will need 4.5 million nurses but supply only 3.4 million, per McKinsey analysis
06
California projected RN shortage of 275,000 FTEs by 2030, worst in nation
07
New York expects 100,000 RN shortage by 2030, with NYC metro 40% of total
08
Texas forecasts 157,000 RN shortages by 2030, driven by population boom
09
Florida projected to lack 59,100 RNs by 2025, rising to 137,700 by 2035
10
By 2040, US nursing shortage could reach 1 million FTEs if trends persist, per NSI
11
Rural US areas projected 20% RN shortage by 2030 vs 10% urban
12
Aging population to drive 80% of RN demand increase by 2030, needing 1.2 million more nurses
13
Long-term care projected to face 355,000 RN shortages by 2030 due to Boomer retirements
14
ICU RNs projected shortage of 50,000 by 2028 post-COVID burnout
15
Pediatric nursing projected 15% shortage by 2030, 25,000 FTEs short nationwide
16
Mental health RNs expected 30% shortage by 2030, 40,000 positions unfilled
17
OR/perioperative nurses projected shortage of 100,000 by 2030
18
Public health nurses to face 22% shortage by 2026, 15,000 FTEs
19
School nursing projected 12% vacancy by 2030, impacting 50,000 positions
20
Home health RN shortage projected at 150,000 by 2030 with aging in place trend
21
Emergency dept RNs expected 18% shortage by 2028, 30,000 FTEs
22
Oncology nursing shortage to hit 20,000 by 2030 due to cancer incidence rise
23
Neonatal ICU RNs projected 25% short by 2030, 8,000 positions
24
Dialysis RN shortage forecasted at 12,000 FTEs by 2028
25
Cardiac care RNs to lack 15,000 by 2030 with CVD prevalence up 20%
26
Geriatric nursing projected 300,000 shortage by 2034
27
Globally, WHO projects 10 million nurse shortage by 2030, US share 10%
Interpretation
Projected Shortages Interpretation
We are collectively trying to balance a healthcare ledger where the patient census is skyrocketing, the retirement party invitations are already in the mail, and the entire system is preparing to treat its own massive, multi-specialty deficit with a dangerously understaffed nursing corps.
05 · Category
Solutions and Initiatives21 stats
01
Federal loan forgiveness: $1.2B awarded to 150,000 nurses 2023 to combat shortages
02
State incentives: 35 states offer signing bonuses up to $50,000for rural nurses 2024
03
Simulation training expansion: 80% nursing schools increased sim use by 50% to address clinical shortages
04
APRN full practice: 27 states grant full authority, filling 20% RN gaps
05
Faculty loan programs: 50 universities funded 2,000 new educators 2023
06
Magnet hospitals: 10% lower turnover, 15% higher retention via excellence model
07
Telehealth nursing: Deployed to cover 30% rural shortages in 2024 pilots
08
Accelerated BSN programs: Enrolled 25,000 second-degree students 2023, fastest growth
09
Diversity scholarships: $500M invested 2023 to recruit underrepresented groups
10
Wellness programs: Reduced burnout 25% in 500 hospitals via EAPs
11
Visa reforms: H-1C visas increased 10% for nurses 2024, adding 5,000 workers
12
Preceptorship grants: $100M federal funds trained 50,000 new grads 2023
13
Rural recruitment: $50K incentives in 20 states retained 40% more nurses
14
AI staffing tools: Pilots in 100 hospitals optimized schedules, cut overtime 20%
15
Bridge programs: ADN to BSN pathways graduated 100,000 since 2010
16
Violence prevention: 75% hospitals implemented zero-tolerance, turnover down 12%
17
Flexible scheduling: 60% nurses prefer, retention up 18% in adopters
18
Pay equity initiatives: 15% salary hikes in 40% hospitals 2024, filled 10% vacancies
19
International recruitment: Philippines supplied 25,000 US nurses 2023 via partnerships
20
Residency programs: 1,000 sites trained 20,000 new RNs 2023, retention 90%
21
Tech integration: EHR training reduced admin time 30%, satisfaction up 22%
Interpretation
Solutions and Initiatives Interpretation
We're throwing the entire kitchen sink of solutions at the nursing shortage, from forgiving loans to deploying AI, because a band-aid simply won't cut it for a crisis of this scale.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Nursing Shortage Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-shortage-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "Nursing Shortage Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nursing-shortage-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Nursing Shortage Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-shortage-statistics.
Sources & references
85 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level