North Carolina has the 8th worst nurse shortage, study finds

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina has the eighth-worst nursing shortage in the nation, a study has found.

According to the study from CheapNursingCEUs, North Carolina has 1,674 nurses per 100,000 residents. There are 185,007 in the state overall, with 162,197 registered nurses and 22,810 nurse practitioners.

The worst nursing shortage is in Utah, which has 1,340 nurses per 100,000 residents. Rounding out the top 10 are Washington, Georgia, Wyoming, Maryland, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, and Arizona, according to the study.

The study found the national average number of nurses per 100,000 residents is 2,057. Hawaii has the most nurses at 2,967 per 100,000 residents.

Information about the number of registered nurses and nurse practitioners in the nation was provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, according to the study.

“The top 10 states facing the most critical nurse shortages are split evenly between the West and the South, which is an unmistakable sign that these regions are under intense pressure,” CheapNursingCEUs. “In stark contrast, the bottom 10 states with the best nurse-to-population ratios are clustered in the Northeast and Midwest, revealing a striking regional divide in healthcare staffing.

“Fewer nurses mean longer patient wait times, higher stress levels for those on the frontlines, and increased risk of burnout,” the statement continues. “But there is a silver lining: job opportunities abound. If you’re a nurse [or training to be one] and open to relocating, these high-need states could offer you not just employment, but a chance to make a massive impact where it’s needed most.”