In 2025, the nationwide nursing shortage exceeded 200,000 registered nurses. This figure puts into question the U.S. medicine's ability to provide high-quality, timely, and accessible care. The reasons for the growing gap between the nursing workforce needed and available nursing staff are diverse, ranging from demographic to systemic factors. Wisconsin, and the county of Racine in particular, also mirror the national crisis, with a pronounced RN shortage on the agenda. 

So, how can this dramatic lack of nurses be addressed at the county level? Here is a professional insight into the problem, with major causes analyzed and the most promising solutions outlined. 

Why Is the Nursing Shortage Growing in the USA? 

The nursing crisis has become a troubling healthcare issue in the USA, mainly due to the complex overlap of numerous reasons that widen the gap between the statistics of demand and supply in the nursing labor market. Here are the most notable root causes: 
• Aging population and workforce. The global population is aging, and the USA is no exception. The Baby Boomer generation, the most plentiful age category the country, is expected to reach 65 years of age by 2030, which will increase the workload of healthcare institutions. A significant percentage of currently working RNs are also aged 50 or older, so they are expected to retire within the coming decade, further exacerbating the situation in healthcare. 

• Faculty shortage. While there are not enough nurses to cater to the aging population, educational institutions are also struggling to keep up with the rising demand due to faculty shortages. A lack of competent nursing educators causes thousands of student applications to be turned down every year due to insufficient faculty and classroom space.

• High turnover and burnout. Students begin to experience the high pressure of the nursing profession from the start of their education. Some resort to a nursing essay writing  service to strike the life-study balance, while others who have no resources for that often drop out, unable to keep up with the fast pace of learning. Nurses who manage to graduate and secure employment continue to face burnout in the workplace due to long working shifts and the increasing number of patients. 

• Structural factors. Poverty and health inequity continue to widen the gap in the population’s access to high-quality healthcare. This way, nurses become the first line of defense in healthcare provision, and the load on the nursing workforce increases day by day. 

• Cultural determinants. Nursing has always been seen as a female profession, with many young and middle-aged nurses leaving the workplace during childbearing years. 
These problems enter into a complex interplay, making it impossible to find a straightforward and quick solution to the rising nursing shortage. 

Nursing Shortage Statistics in Wisconsin and Racine 

According to the 2024 report by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the level of vacancy rates in Wisconsin hospitals is very high. Besides, nurses enjoy one of the lowest unemployment rates in this state, which means that there are simply not enough nurses to satisfy the growing demand for this profession. The reasons for alarming rates of nursing understaffing in Wisconsin and Racine are the same: 
• Educational bottlenecks of local colleges and universities. 
• Workforce retention problems. 
• Faculty shortages resulting from a 25% pay gap between educational and clinical roles in nursing. 
• Retirement of experienced nursing educators and practitioners. 

Educational Establishments that Help Address the Problem 

With such an alarming trend of understaffing, the authorities of Racine should take proactive steps to address the nursing gap. The most evident solution in this area seems to increase the investment in nursing education and equip local educational establishments with vital resources for nursing student preparation. At present, local nurses can turn to: 
• Gateway Technical College (GTC). The college offers an Associate Degree (AND) in nursing and practical nursing programs (LPN) that cover the full spectrum of RN preparation with clinical practice and simulation labs. 
• University of Wisconsin-Parkside. This institution partners with UW-Milwaukee to provide pre-nursing education and help students transition to advanced nursing education programs.  

There are many other reputable educational institutions that educate nurses across Wisconsin, including: 
• University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing. This leading nursing education institution offers reputable BSN and DNP programs for nurses. 
• Wisconsin Nurse Educator Program. This program proved highly successful at the statewide level by allocating a $5 million support budget in 2021-2024 to fund graduate-level nursing degrees for educators. It presupposes forgivable loans to nurses who teach at local educational institutions for at least three years. The program aims to increase the faculty by 250 new educators.  
• Statewide nursing programs. Many schools, like Marquette University, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Viterbo University, offer a variety of nursing programs. Students can enroll for BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees and enjoy the flexibility of learning options, such as blended or fully remote learning. 

With plenty of nursing institutions available in Racine and the neighborhood, local authorities need to dedicate more attention to empowering these educational facilities with proper faculty staff, thus paving the way for adequate numbers of nursing graduates. 

Strategic Approach to Tackling Nursing Shortage in Racine 

As the problem of nursing shortage is gaining prominence in the U.S. healthcare industry, decision-makers need to take strategic steps to address the issue in the long run. Based on the evidence discovered in this article, one should focus attention on the following areas: 
• Increasing the flexibility and accessibility of educational programs. 
• Expansion of faculty capacity with salary improvements and educational incentives. 
• Clinical partnerships with hospitals and clinics that reduce educational bottlenecks and equip students with vital clinical experiences. 
• Incentives for local education will motivate students to receive an education in Wisconsin and get employed locally. 

Such a combined approach, together with sustained investment in faculty development, can help bridge the gap between the number of nurses needed and available. The need to invest in education is evident, as local educational institutions can become incubators of locally competitive and well-trained nursing staff by becoming accessible, high-quality talent incubators. Flexible educational models and clinical partnerships also add value to national efforts to bridge the workforce gap and deliver high-quality patient care.