Opinion: Addressing the nursing shortage crisis starts with nursing faculty

The U.S. healthcare system is facing a dual crisis: a critical shortage of nurses and an even more severe shortage of nursing faculty. This interconnected challenge creates a dangerous threat to the system’s capacity to meet current and future healthcare needs, with dire consequences for patient care quality. The Westchester County Association, in collaboration with healthcare providers, educational institutions, and professional associations, is actively seeking solutions to these pressing issues, which significantly impact healthcare throughout New York.

The Health Resources and Services Administration estimates a shortage of 78,610 full-time registered nurses this year. Exacerbating this issue is a persistent scarcity of nursing faculty. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the national faculty vacancy rate rose to 7.9% in 2024. Over 59% of nursing schools reported unfilled full-time positions.

In New York regions with high healthcare demand, the faculty shortage is particularly acute. This gap significantly limits nursing schools' ability to train new students, worsening the overall nursing shortage. Enrollment caps and delays in program starts due to lack of faculty decreases the future supply of nurses.

Several factors drive the nursing faculty shortage. Topping the list is the significant salary disparity between clinical and academic roles. Experienced nurses in clinical settings often earn much higher wages, making faculty positions less financially appealing. Additionally, academic roles come with heavy workloads, contributing to burnout and turnover. The anticipated retirement of many seasoned faculty members further exacerbates the issue, as it reduces the number of experienced mentors to train and guide new educators.

Nursing schools across the state face severe resource constraints, including insufficient funding and infrastructure, which negatively impacts their ability to admit and train students effectively. In our region, thousands of qualified nursing school applicants are turned away each year because there aren’t enough faculty, clinical sites, and other resources. A recent AACN survey (October 2023) of 922 nursing schools reported 1,977 full-time faculty vacancies, with an additional 103 positions needed to meet student demand. The national nurse faculty vacancy rate is 7.8%, with nearly 80% of vacancies requiring or preferring a doctoral degree.

The WCA and our partners believe the problem can be solved with increased funding for faculty positions to address salary disparities and resource gaps for nursing educators; expanded loan repayment and forgiveness programs to encourage nurses to pursue academic careers; enhanced state funds for grants, scholarships, bonuses, and housing allowances for nursing educators; greater philanthropic support for scholarships; and improved access to doctoral programs to allow working nurses to pursue advanced degrees without leaving their jobs. 

The nursing faculty shortage poses a severe threat to New York’s healthcare system, limiting the capacity of nursing programs to train new nurses and ultimately compromising patient care. The WCA and its partners are leading a coordinated response to address the root causes of this issue. By investing in legislative support, financial incentives, philanthropic partnerships, and expanded educational opportunities, they are working to create a sustainable solution to the faculty shortage.

However, these efforts require ongoing collaboration among healthcare institutions, government agencies, foundations, and educational organizations. Addressing the nursing faculty shortage is crucial for building a strong, resilient nursing workforce capable of meeting the 21st-century healthcare demands. By prioritizing investments in nursing education today, we can ensure a robust healthcare system for tomorrow, safeguarding the quality of care for all. The problem will be solved by working together and with urgency.