Fox 26 Medford
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February 25, 2025
A crisis by the numbers: Nursing shortages in 2025 by state
Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company predicted in 2022 that the United States would see a shortfall of 200,000 to 450,000 registered nurses, or RNs, for direct patient care by 2025. It appears the firm was correct. Between 2022 and 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, and Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, noted a 1% increase in RN supply but a 3% increase in demand. The result was a deficit of about 295,800 nurses nationwide, falling within the predicted range. The persistent nursing shortage across U.S. health care systems is more than a temporary crisis. It's a consistent, critical challenge that strains hospitals and other healthcare facilities nationwide.
As the demand for healthcare services escalates with an aging population and ongoing health care reforms, the gap between the supply and demand of RNs widens, but only in some areas. Vivian Health compared data across all 50 states and the District of Columbia to perform a comprehensive analysis of where nursing shortages may continue to impact health care systems. This detailed examination explores the depth of the problem, pinpointing states facing the most significant shortages and those anticipated to have an oversupply for a quantitative view of the national distribution of nurses.