20 states facing acute nursing shortages

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of registered nurses will grow 6% between 2022 and 2032. About 193,100 openings for RNs are projected each year on average over the decade as workers move to different occupations or depart the labor force, such as to retire.

This comes as an adequate supply of nurses will be needed to address a rising demand for healthcare, and as nursing shortages affect states across the U.S.

On March 1, Medical Solutions, a healthcare staffing company, released the 20 states where nurses are needed the most based on the most current nurse-to-state population ratios and projected need by 2030. Ratios in the report were from Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data published in NurseJournal. Projected need by 2030 is from Projections Central, a site sponsored by the Labor Department.

Here are the 20 states where nurses are needed the most, per the Medical Solutions article: 

Note: States are listed in alphabetical order.

Arizona
Ratio: 7.61 nurses per 1,000 people 
Projected need by 2030: 22,980 nurses 

California
Ratio: 8.34 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 35,000 nurses 

Colorado
Ratio: 8.97 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 15,170 nurses

Florida
Ratio: 8.88 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 27,390 nurses 

Georgia
Ratio: 7.6 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 13,260 nurses 

Illinois
Ratio: 10.28 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 6,250 nurses

Indiana
Ratio: 9.86 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 5,210 nurses

Maryland
Ratio: 8.08 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 12,320 nurses

Michigan
Ratio: 10.11 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 8,160 nurses

Nevada
Ratio: 7.54 nurses per 1,000 people 
Projected need by 2030: 5,590 nurses

New Jersey
Ratio: 8.46 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 7,190 nurses

New York
Ratio: 9.68 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 33,420 nurses

North Carolina
Ratio: 9.75 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 11,770 nurses

Pennsylvania
10.64 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 13,100 nurses

South Carolina
8.33 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 4,990 nurses

Tennessee
Ratio: 8.63 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 10,870 nurses

Texas
Ratio: 7.69 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 37,740 nurses

Utah
Ratio: 6.75 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 4,980 nurses

Virginia
Ratio: 8.00 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 5,560 nurses

Washington
Ratio: 8.34 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 9,990 nurses

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