Rounds with Leadership: Alleviating the Nursing Shortage: Connecting Qualified Applicants to Open Seats

Efforts to address the U.S. nursing shortage are accelerating with a flurry of recent news reports focused on state-led initiatives to meet workforce demands. Some states and individual schools of nursing are expanding educational pathways (Kansas, Virginia) and launching new baccalaureate programs (Hawaii, Idaho). Others are strengthening collaborations to increase clinical placement opportunities (California, West Virginia), the use of simulation to accommodate more students (New York), and support services focused on nurse retention and reducing burnout (Connecticut, Minnesota). Removing financial barriers to nursing education is a common approach achieved through loan repayment programs (Michigan, South Carolina), scholarships (North Carolina, Texas)  and tax breaks for nurse preceptors (Pennsylvania).

As states and the nation look for ways to prepare more nurses, maximizing enrollment capacity in nursing schools is critical. Every year, AACN reports that qualified applicants are being turned away from member schools even though thousands of vacant seats remain. For example, in 2023, a total of 65,766 qualified applications were denied entry into baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs even though 106,023 enrollment slots went unfilled. The solution rests with connecting all prospective students who meet admission requirements with open seats. 

Fortunately, AACN offers a powerful tool to help ensure that nursing school capacity is reached. Now in its 15^th year, NursingCAS is a centralized application service for students applying to professional nursing programs. Students use this online platform to research and apply to registered nursing (RN) and advanced degree programs nationwide, using one application and one set of supporting documents (transcripts, standardized tests, etc.). In addition to providing a convenient way to apply to multiple nursing programs, prospective students can also check the status of their application materials in real-time and access dedicated customer service support throughout the application process.

Designed to streamline the admissions process for both applicants and program administrators, NursingCAS is currently utilized by nearly 300 institutions. NursingCAS has a national reach, with schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia using the service. Participating schools include top-ranked academic health centers, small liberal-arts schools, public and private institutions, religiously-affiliated schools, and community colleges.

Findings from NursingCAS’ most recent data report illustrate its success. Compared to the previous year, the number of applications submitted through NursingCAS during the 2023-2024 cycle increased by 25%, making this the most successful cycle to date! A total of 64,443 applicants used the platform with 90,765 applications submitted. Thirty-one new programs joined NursingCAS this year with more than 2,400 programs accepting applications.

To address the RN shortage, NursingCAS provides a much-needed mechanism to match prospective students with nursing schools with enrollment capacity. NursingCAS is uniquely well-positioned to point students to open seats to ensure that more qualified applicants are accommodated each year.

Filling all available seats in our nation's nursing schools is critical to addressing the nursing shortage and meeting the projected demand for RNs. Schools and state collaboratives interested in learning more about NursingCAS and how this free service can meet your enrollment and workforce needs are encouraged to reach out to AACN’s Taylor Jaczko (tjaczko@aacnnursing.org) for more information and to schedule a demonstration.