As the population ages and the demand for care climbs, health systems — and nurse executives in particular — face a persistent challenge: there are not enough nurses.
In 2025, the national RN vacancy rate was 8.6%, and the federal Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortfall of more than 250,000 registered nurses by 2028. Workforce experts increasingly describe the problem as structural rather than cyclical — one that health systems cannot recruit their way out of.
To address this problem, Marquette University in Milwaukee, in partnership with Orbis Education, has built a new pipeline of nurses by bringing career changers and other nontraditional students into the profession.
Regional nursing shortages
While nursing shortages exist across the country, there is variation by region.
According to Jill Guttormson, PhD, RN, dean of the College of Nursing at Marquette University, Wisconsin is forecast to be short of 10,000 or more nurses by 2040, with the greatest shortages in rural areas. Compounding the problem, nearly 30% of the state’s nurses are 55 or older, and almost half of those at the bedside expect to leave direct patient care within 10 years.
“We have a nursing shortage,” Dr. Guttormson said. “It’s getting worse. And a high percentage of nurses are looking to retire. While there are regional variations, I don’t think there’s one state in the country that doesn’t have pockets where they have nursing workforce challenges.”
New pathways needed
Part of the problem is that the traditional pathway — the four-year nursing degree — cannot produce nurses fast enough to meet demand. Academic programs need more creative and flexible alternatives that widen access to the profession and appeal to people later in their lives and careers.
“Addressing the shortage requires moving beyond traditional pathways,” said Rebecca Anderson, vice president of partnership operations at Orbis Education. “We have to create new pathways\ for people who maybe want to find a new career.”
Marquette’s collaborative nursing education model
About a decade ago, Marquette University formed a unique partnership with Orbis Education to reimagine how it delivers nursing education. Together, the partners opened a second campus for Marquette’s nursing program in Pleasant Prairie, about 40 miles south of the university’s main campus. The location expands access to nursing education by attracting a different cohort of students — who are often older, mid-career and looking for new possibilities.
The program — a five-semester direct-entry master of science in nursing for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field — draws on the strengths of each partner. Marquette provides the academic side: curriculum, faculty and access to clinical sites. Orbis brings the infrastructure, operations, program coordination and student support services.
“These are Marquette students who feel connected to Marquette, but Orbis provides resources, operational expertise and opportunities. Orbis has been an amazing partner,” Dr. Guttormson said. “Having a partner that can grow with you and be nimble in nursing education is everything.”
The partners’ work extends well beyond the classroom. They meet regularly with healthcare organizations across the region to understand their staffing needs, secure clinical placements for students and connect graduates with employers.
Over the past decade, 94% of entering students have graduated with high job securement rates. The program has produced 1,200 new nurses, 85% of whom have stayed to work in Wisconsin or Northern Illinois — a pipeline that has helped meet the region’s nursing needs. Enrollment has now grown to around 170 students per year.
“We’ve built this partnership focused on student success and student support, making sure students have what they need to be ready for practice ,'” Dr. Guttormson said.
Widening the pathway
Looking ahead, Marquette is exploring a slower-paced, two-year option for students who are working or caring for families while in school.
“We are continually looking to make accessible pathways available to students,” Ms. Anderson said. “We are doing it on a timeline that meets student expectations and we’re supporting them along the way.”
Also, Marquette continues to speak and collaborate with healthcare partners in the region to understand their needs and ensure the nursing program’s student experience properly prepares nurses to enter the field.
The goal is unchanged: keep widening the pathways into nursing and keep growing the pipeline of well-prepared nurses that the region’s healthcare organizations — and their patients — depend on.
