The United States is grappling with a persistent shortage of nurses, prompting a growing reliance on internationally educated nurses (IENs) to bolster the workforce. As demand outpaces the supply of U.S.-educated nurses, healthcare systems are turning to global talent to fill the gap. But what’s driving this shortage, and how can IENs help address it? Let’s explore the challenges, projections, and immigration hurdles involved and how organizations like International Education Evaluations (IEE) can support this critical effort.
The Root Causes of the Nursing Shortage
The imbalance between nurse supply and demand stems from multiple factors. Many staff nurses exit the profession due to burnout, childcare challenges, poor work-life balance, and even violence against healthcare workers. At the same time, the pipeline of new nurses can’t keep up. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reported that in the 2023-2024 academic year, 65,766 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing schools. Why? Insufficient faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, preceptors, and budget constraints limit the number of students who can be trained each year. Without addressing these bottlenecks, the shortage will persist.
A Growing Gap: Workforce Projections
The numbers paint a stark picture. According to a Health Workforce Analysis by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in November 2022, the U.S. faces a projected shortage of 78,610 full-time registered nurses (RNs) in 2025, easing slightly to 63,720 by 2030. By 2035, certain states will feel the pinch more acutely. The top ten states with the largest projected shortages include Washington (26%), Georgia (21%), California (18%), Oregon (16%), Michigan (15%), Idaho (15%), Louisiana (13%), North Carolina (13%), New Jersey (12%), and South Carolina (11%). These figures underscore the urgent need for creative solutions like tapping into the global nursing workforce.
The Role of Internationally Educated Nurses
IENs offer a vital lifeline. In 2024, nurse migration to the U.S. has remained steady, yet demand far exceeds available opportunities. Many nurses worldwide aspire to work in the U.S., but visa limitations cap their entry. The most common visa for nurses, the EB-3, offers roughly 40,000 slots annually. However, nurses must compete with other bachelor’s-degree holders, like engineers and IT professionals, for these coveted spots, creating a bottleneck that slows the influx of talent.
Visa Challenges and Retrogression
Even when nurses secure a visa sponsor, the journey isn’t straightforward. Retrogression, a situation where permanent resident applications outnumber available visas can stall progress. When this happens, the Department of State (DOS) establishes a queue based on priority dates (the date a petition was filed) and country of origin. For example, imagine a nurse with a priority date of January 1, 2023. If the latest Visa Bulletin sets the cutoff at October 2022 due to retrogression, that nurse’s application is on hold until their priority date becomes current again. This waiting game frustrates migrating nurses and their U.S. sponsors, who track the monthly Visa Bulletin with bated breath for updates.
How IEE Can Help
At International Education Evaluations (IEE), we’re committed to easing this process. We specialize in nursing credential evaluations for U.S. state nursing licenses and are one of only three organizations approved by U.S. government agencies to issue Health Care Worker Certificates for visa applications. Whether you’re a nurse navigating migration, licensing, or education requirements or an employer sponsoring talent we’re here to assist. Let us help you turn your U.S. nursing career into a reality.
Sources:
https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Shortage-Factsheet.pdfhttps://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/workforce-projections
