The numbers paint a troubling picture for American healthcare. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 65,766 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing programs in 2023 alone — not because these aspiring nurses lacked potential, but because there simply weren’t enough qualified faculty members to teach them.
As hospitals nationwide struggle with nursing shortages and patient care demands continue to rise, the faculty shortage has created a bottleneck that threatens the entire healthcare system. For experienced nurses considering their next career move, stepping into nurse education offers an opportunity to address this crisis at its source, shaping the future of healthcare while advancing into rewarding leadership roles. Arkansas State University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice in Education program helps prepare nurses to become leaders in academic and clinical nursing education and address the shortage crisis.
The Scope of the Crisis: Thousands of Future Nurses Turned Away
The nursing faculty shortage isn’t a future problem — it’s a present emergency affecting institutions across the country. The AACN found that a total of 1,977 full-time faculty vacancies were identified in a survey of 922 nursing schools with baccalaureate and graduate programs nationwide, representing a national vacancy rate of 7.8%. Most nursing schools responding to the survey pointed to faculty shortages as the primary reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs.
The geographic impact varies significantly across regions. Healthcare Workforce Coalition reports that the faculty vacancy rate was highest in the West at 9.8% and lowest in the Midwest at 5.6%, creating regional disparities in nursing education capacity. The AACN also notes that 79.8% of all open positions require or prefer faculty hires to hold a terminal degree, creating additional hurdles to close vacancies since there is a limited pool of doctoral-prepared nurses.
Why the Faculty Shortage Keeps Growing
Multiple factors converge to create what many experts call a perfect storm for nursing education. One of the most pressing concerns centers on faculty age and the impending wave of retirements. The AACN reported that the average ages of doctorally prepared nurse faculty holding the ranks of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor were 61.2, 55.6, and 49.6 years, respectively. Research published in Nursing Outlook on Retirements and Succession of Nursing Faculty indicates that one-third of the current nursing faculty workforce in baccalaureate and graduate programs are expected to retire by 2025.
The salary gap between academic and clinical roles presents another significant barrier. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary across advanced practice registered nurse roles is $93,600 with wages rising to $130,000 in many cases, while the median salary for professors in schools of nursing is $80,780. This substantial difference makes clinical positions far more financially attractive, particularly for nurses carrying student loan debt from their own advanced education.
Compounding these challenges, the pipeline of potential faculty continues to shrink. The AACN reported that enrollment in master’s programs decreased by 0.9% or 1,176 students from 2022 to 2023, marking the third consecutive year of declines. Even more concerning, enrollment in PhD nursing programs declined by 3.1% or 137 students, and since PhD program enrollment began to dip in 2013, enrollment has decreased by 17.5%. In 2023 alone, 5,491 qualified applications were turned away from master’s programs, and 4,461 qualified applications were turned away from doctoral programs, primarily due to shortages of faculty, preceptors and clinical education sites.
The Ripple Effect on Healthcare Delivery
The nursing faculty shortage doesn’t exist in isolation — it directly amplifies the broader nursing workforce crisis affecting patient care nationwide. According to the American Nurse Journal, federal authorities project a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs in 2025 and a shortage of 63,720 full-time RNs in 2030. These projections become even more concerning when considering that nursing schools cannot expand their capacity to meet the demand.
The mathematics of the crisis are straightforward but sobering: When nursing programs turn away nearly 66,000 qualified students in a single year due to faculty shortages, those are 66,000 fewer nurses who could enter the workforce within the next few years. As the U.S. population ages and healthcare needs grow more complex, this bottleneck in nursing education threatens to leave hospitals understaffed, extend patient wait times and strain the nurses currently providing care. Some states face even more acute challenges — Delaware, for instance, reported a faculty vacancy rate of 12.3%, significantly above the national average of 7.8%.
Emerging Solutions and Opportunities for Nurse Leaders
Despite the challenges, innovative initiatives across the country demonstrate promising pathways forward. The federal government has implemented several programs specifically targeting the nurse faculty shortage. The Health Resources and Services Administration administers the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, which assists graduate students pursuing faculty careers by canceling up to 85% of their educational loans, plus interest, over a four-year period in exchange for teaching at a school of nursing. The Faculty Loan Repayment Program provides up to $40,000 in loan repayment for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who serve as faculty at eligible health professions schools for a minimum of two years.
State-level initiatives are also gaining traction. With $6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, the University of California-Davis announced a five-year initiative titled the Residency in Education, Teaching and Instruction in Nursing program, designed to prepare new nursing faculty and address health equity gaps in underserved communities. To increase the number of clinical nurse educators, several states including Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia now offer tax incentives for nurses serving in these teaching roles.
Academic-practice partnerships are bridging the gap in creative ways. In April 2022, HCA Healthcare announced a $1.5 million partnership with Florida International University to address the national nursing faculty shortage. These collaborations leverage resources from both healthcare systems and academic institutions to create sustainable faculty development pathways.
For nurses considering how they can make the greatest impact on the profession, advanced education in nursing education provides a direct pathway to addressing this crisis. Doctor of Nursing Practice programs with an education specialization prepare experienced nurses to step into faculty leadership roles, combining clinical expertise with educational theory and practice. Arkansas State University’s online DNP in Education, for example, offers working nurses a flexible, affordable pathway to develop expertise in designing and delivering effective training while maintaining their current professional commitments. The program’s 100% online format with pay-as-you-go tuition makes advanced education accessible, and its ACEN accreditation ensures graduates meet the highest standards for nurse educator preparation.
Making the Difference: Why Nurses Choose Education
Nurses who transition into faculty roles often describe the decision as one of the most professionally rewarding choices of their careers. Unlike direct patient care, where impact is measured one patient at a time, nurse educators shape entire cohorts of future healthcare professionals. Every student who graduates under their guidance multiplies their positive impact on healthcare delivery exponentially. The role offers unique professional advantages beyond its systemic impact.
Faculty positions typically provide greater schedule flexibility than clinical roles, with academic calendars offering opportunities for research, continuing education and professional development during semester breaks. Many faculty members engage in scholarly research that advances nursing knowledge and influences healthcare policy at state and national levels. For nurses who value intellectual challenge and continuous learning, academia provides constant opportunities to stay current with evolving healthcare practices while contributing to the body of nursing science.
The financial considerations, while traditionally challenging, are gradually improving as institutions recognize the critical need for qualified faculty. Many universities now offer competitive benefit packages, opportunities for additional income through summer teaching or consulting, and partnerships with clinical facilities that allow faculty to maintain practice skills while teaching. Programs like the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program, administered in collaboration with AACN, have provided financial support and leadership development to more than 1,400 doctoral nursing students in all 50 states since 2008, specifically targeting the development of doctoral-prepared nurses available to serve as faculty.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Nursing Faculty Shortage
Why is there a nursing faculty shortage?
The shortage stems from multiple converging factors: an aging faculty workforce with one-third expected to retire by 2025, a significant salary gap between clinical and academic roles, declining enrollment in doctoral nursing programs and insufficient numbers of doctoral-prepared nurses. Budget constraints at nursing schools and increasing competition from clinical sites for qualified nurses further compound the problem.
What qualifications do you need to become a nursing faculty member?
Most nursing faculty positions require a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a minimum, with an increasing preference for doctoral degrees (DNP or PhD). According to AACN data, 84% of current faculty vacancies either require or prefer candidates with terminal degrees. Faculty candidates also need active RN licensure, clinical experience and increasingly, specialized preparation in nursing education theory and pedagogy.
How does the nursing faculty shortage impact patient care?
The faculty shortage creates a bottleneck that limits the number of new nurses entering the workforce. With federal projections showing a shortage of more than 78,000 RNs by 2025, the inability to educate enough nursing students means hospitals remain understaffed, patient wait times increase, and current nurses face heavier workloads. This ripple effect directly impacts the quality and accessibility of healthcare delivery nationwide.
What is being done to address the nursing faculty shortage?
Multiple initiatives are underway at federal, state, and institutional levels. Federal programs like the Nurse Faculty Loan Program and Faculty Loan Repayment Program provide financial incentives for nurses to pursue academic careers. States including California, Colorado, and Maryland have implemented substantial funding initiatives and tax incentives. Academic-practice partnerships are creating innovative faculty development pathways, and universities are developing accelerated doctoral programs specifically designed to prepare clinical nurses for faculty roles.
What programs help nurses transition into educator roles?
Multiple pathways exist for nurses interested in education. Doctor of Nursing Practice programs with education specializations prepare nurses for advanced faculty roles, combining clinical expertise with educational theory. Many universities offer post-master’s certificates in nursing education for nurses who already hold graduate degrees. Federal loan forgiveness programs specifically target nurses committed to teaching careers. Universities like Arkansas State offer fully online DNP programs designed for working nurses, making advanced education accessible without requiring career interruption.
About Arkansas State University’s Online DNP in Education
Arkansas State University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice in Education program addresses the critical shortage of nurse educators by preparing experienced nurses to become leaders in academic and clinical nursing education. The 100% online format with flexible, pay-as-you-go tuition makes advanced education accessible to working nurses nationwide, while the ACEN-accredited curriculum ensures graduates master the skills needed to design innovative education, conduct meaningful research and lead transformative change in nursing education.
Built for the realities of busy nursing careers, the program allows students to complete clinicals in their workplace context, immediately applying educational theories to real-world teaching scenarios. Graduates emerge prepared for diverse educator roles including university nursing faculty, clinical education directors and academic administrators — positions where they can directly address the faculty shortage while advancing their careers and creating lasting impact on healthcare delivery for generations to come.
Learn more about Arkansas State University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice in Education program.