Spend any time in the online learning world and one question comes up again and again: How do we educate enough nurses? Between now and 2032, there will be over 193,000 job openings for registered nurses, while only 177,000 nurses are expected to enter the workforce each year. This nursing shortage is impacting both the quality of patient care and the ability of many hospitals (particularly rural hospitals) to continue to offer health-care services.
To start to understand the nursing-education landscape as it relates to the online learning ecosystem, I connected with Kathleen Winston, Ph.D., R.N., dean emeritus for the College of Nursing at the University of Phoenix and advisory council member at AllCampus. Kathleen is a nationally recognized expert in nursing education, and I am grateful she took the time to answer my questions.
Q: Where do you see the biggest gaps in today’s nursing education programs, especially when it comes to preparing nurses for the realities of the modern health-care workforce?
A: The nursing workforce will be tested in the coming decade as the population ages, technology continues advancing and health-care needs continue evolving. The nursing workforce requires an innovative education system that extends care into the community, rural environments and culturally diverse populations and increases in numbers and types of clinicians. Leadership skills development is lacking in nursing education, with limited faculty and insufficient clinical resources contributing to the gaps, creating burnout, shortages and turnover.
One of the most pressing gaps in today’s nursing education programs is the disconnect between academic preparation and the high-intensity, fast-evolving demands of today’s clinical environments. Nursing students often graduate with a strong foundation in theory but limited exposure to the realities of interprofessional collaboration, technology integration and the emotional resilience required in practice.
For example, while electronic health records and AI-driven diagnostics are now standard in many hospital systems, few academic programs offer hands-on experience with these tools currently. Equally important, soft skills like communication and conflict resolution—critical in today’s team-based care models—are underemphasized in today’s classrooms. We need to better align current (and future) curricula with what nurses will face on the floor, particularly as they enter a workforce grappling with high acuity, staffing constraints and rapidly shifting patient needs.
Q: What innovations or investments should colleges and universities prioritize to make online nursing education more impactful and accessible for working adults and career changers?
A: Flexibility without compromise is key to making online nursing education more impactful and accessible. Schools need to invest in online platforms that deliver rigorous, immersive content while allowing students to learn on their own time. This means going beyond recorded lectures to offer high-quality simulation experiences, virtual labs and interactive case-based learning that mirrors the complexity of real clinical decision-making. Incorporating technologies like virtual reality or AI-driven feedback can enhance skill-building in ways that are both scalable and engaging for nursing students.
At the same time, true accessibility requires more than just advanced technology. Many adult learners are balancing jobs and families, so programs should also offer 24-7 academic advising, financial aid counseling and mental health support that’s tailored to their schedules. With the average age of R.N.-to-B.S.N. students hovering just over 30, the traditional model of education doesn’t always work for those students seeking nursing degrees. These are individuals looking to grow within the profession, and they need systems that recognize their real-world responsibilities while preparing them for nursing positions. Schools that innovate around both content and support structure will be best positioned to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s nursing workforce.
Q: Nursing burnout and workforce shortages are at an all-time high. How can higher ed help address these challenges?
A: A more sustainable nursing workforce can be achieved with an increased supply of nurses, an expansion of faculty, innovative evidence-based curricula that integrate modern technology, advanced education pathways and robust mentorship opportunities. Supporting current professionals through mentoring allows seasoned nurses to model resilience and professionalism for the next generation.
Higher education plays a vital role in strengthening the nursing workforce, both by improving retention and expanding access to the profession. One place to start is by creating more flexible, affordable pathways—especially for underrepresented communities—through bridge programs, community college partnerships, tuition assistance and other education benefits. Partnerships across health-care organizations are also essential to ensuring students are clinically prepared and supported throughout their training.
We also need to equip nurses with the tools to build resilience and combat burnout. A 2023 survey from the American Nurses Foundation found that more than 56 percent of nurses under 35 report feeling emotionally exhausted. Embedding well-being practices into curricula, such as mindfulness and stress management, can help students build resilience before they enter already-strained clinical environments.
The average cost of nurse turnover is now over $61,000 per nurse, an 8.6 percent jump from last year. Just a 1 percent increase in R.N. turnover can cost a hospital nearly $289,000 annually. If we want to ease the pressure on health systems, we need to start upstream by producing nurses who are not only clinically prepared but emotionally supported throughout their education. At the same time, tackling the faculty shortage facing institutions today by incentivizing experienced nurses to teach is essential to expanding educational capacity and sustaining the nurse-hiring pipeline long term.
