Bridging the Care Gap: North Carolina’s Nursing Workforce Challenge

On this episode of Shoreside, host Nicholas Merino speaks with Catherine Moore, director of the Health Professions Data System at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, about striking projections: by 2033, North Carolina may face shortages of 12,500 registered nurses and 5,000 licensed practical nurses if current trends continue. We explore regional disparities, challenges in retention and diversity, and state initiatives to expand programs, bolster faculty, and improve workplace conditions. We explore regional disparities, challenges in retention and diversity, and state initiatives to expand programs, bolster faculty, and improve workplace conditions. We learn how only decisive investment in recruitment, training, and retention will secure timely, equitable care for North Carolina communities. For listeners who want to explore the data and policy work behind these projections, here are ten key resources on the Cecil G. Sheps Center website:How has RN Retention in North Carolina Changed over Time? A detailed blog on registered nurse retention and exit trends from 2016–2023.: https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/news_release/new-blog-post-how-has-rn-retention-in-north-carolina-changed-over-time/  Report on the North Carolina Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Workforce just released A comprehensive brief describing APRN demographics, practice settings, and regional distribution (2013–2022) https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/news_release/report-on-the-north-carolina-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-workforce-just-released/  New NC Workforce Blog: Trends in the Racial and Ethnic Diversity of Health Professions Analysis of diversity shifts across eight key health professions using 2022 licensure data. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/news_release/new-nc-workforce-blog-2022-racial-ethnic-diversity/  Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy Overview of the PHWRP’s mission, current projects, and expert work groups. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/program/health-workforce-research-and-policy/  Data & Publications Repository A searchable collection of manuscripts, policy briefs, and blog posts on health workforce topics. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/workforce/data-publications-resources/  Sheps Health Workforce NC: Interactive Visualizations County-level maps and charts tracking supply and distribution of 21 health professions. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/workforce/health-workforce-nc/  North Carolina Health Professions Data System (HPDS) The state’s long-running licensure database, with a 27-year retrospective report on its evolution. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/hp/publications/NCHPDS_27yrbk.pdf   How does the racial and ethnic diversity of NC health professionals compare to the state population? A focused blog on representation gaps in nursing, allied health, and beyond. Send us Fan MailSupport the showwww.shoresides.org