Greater Immigration Can Alleviate Troubling Skilled Nurse Shortage

Immigration, always a strength for the U.S. economy, has the potential to fill a dangerous and growing labor shortage of skilled nurses. According to nurse.org’s 2023 State of Nursing report, “91% of nurses believe the nursing shortage is getting worse, and 79% report that their units are inadequately staffed.” And it’s not just nurses who recognize this problem. 90% of hospital CEOs report that nursing shortages are their most pressing workplace issue.

Burnout from Covid-19 is an important contributor to this problem. A survey by NCSBN (an organization of nursing regulatory bodies) found that approximately 100,000 registered nurses (RNs) quit in the two years following the COVID-19 outbreak “due to stress, burnout and retirements.” By 2027, “another 610,388 RNs reported an ‘intent to leave’ the workforce.” Over the next couple of years, approximately 20% of RNs are projected to retire or pursue other opportunities.

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