Virginia’s nursing shortage eases, but demand set to surge by 2030
VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES — Virginia has made strides in addressing its nursing shortage since 2021, but challenges remain.
With 70,000 registered nurses in 2025—up from 47,000 in 2020—the state still ranks ninth-lowest nationally for nurses per capita, signaling the need for sustained efforts to meet future demand.
Regulatory reforms boost nurse mobility
Virginia’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) has significantly changed the situation, allowing nurses from other states to practice and receive recognition for their licenses. This policy transition helped increase the number of registered nurses and alleviate shortages.
Nonetheless, the state has yet to address long-term retention. While the NLC helps recruit talent, the Virginia Healthcare Workforce Data Center projects a need for 87,130 nurses by 2030—a gap requiring further policy innovation. Without continued reforms, reliance on interstate mobility alone may not suffice.
Education initiatives expand local nursing workforce
The state-sponsored initiatives, such as Earn to Learn, which received a $4.5 million budget appropriation in 2024, aim to increase the pipeline as well as collaborations with universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
The university plans to increase the number of nursing students by twice to 1,400 students and to offer Brightpoint Community College accelerated degree programs to speed up graduation.
Still, the rapid expansion of these programs is a challenge. Although Virginia increased the number of nurses by 23,000 in five years, projected populations of aging people and an increased need for care imply an even higher rate of growth. Funding and incentives in education will also be of primary importance to prevent shortages in the future.
Offshore outsourcing and virtual nursing offer solutions
With Virginia having a drastic shortfall for nurses and the healthcare workforce, virtual nursing presents a viable remedy—boosting efficiency, reducing burnout, and alleviating daily workloads
Virtual nursing enhances efficiency, as this is one way to reduce nurse burnout and lessen their daily tasks. Since Virginia might experience a shortage of nurses by 2030, the combination of offshore and telehealth opportunities can fill the gaps without a domestic overstructure.
