To address nursing shortage, Purdue Global’s School of Nursing expands access to education and workforce development
Initiatives help prepare more students for healthcare roles as demand grows across U.S.
A Purdue Global nursing student runs through a patient simulation in a simulation center. (Purdue Global photo/Doug Mott)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The U.S. needs 189,100 new nurses a year through 2034 just to meet demand, and Purdue Global’s School of Nursing is answering the call by helping nursing students earn a degree and fill positions across the nation.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of registered nurses in the U.S. workforce is anticipated to grow from 3.39 million to 3.56 million by 2034.
Abbey Elliott, associate dean of innovation and wellness for Purdue Global’s School of Nursing, isn’t surprised by those numbers, especially as she hears about ongoing challenges to fill nursing positions. She believes the nation is at a critical point that demands action.
“From rural to urban communities, hospitals just can’t staff all their units, and our population’s health is affected,” she said. “Our nurses’ ability to provide preventive care in the community is lessened on the front end. We’re just short everywhere.”
But meeting this need isn’t simple. Nursing requires rigorous education, clinical training and licensure — all of which take time, resources and access that many prospective students don’t have. The urgency of the shortage collides with the challenging reality of expanding the pipeline.
That’s why educators like Elliott say the future of the profession depends on finding newer, faster ways to prepare more nurses without sacrificing the quality of care at the heart of the role, especially as workforce needs and settings keep evolving.
Expanding access to education, workforce development
Purdue Global’s Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree program is helping address the workforce gap that impacts every hospital and community by accelerating entry points into nursing, preparing practice-ready graduates, and expanding access through online and simulation-based learning.
The ASN program offers EMTs, paramedics, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses multiple ways to earn an ASN degree, including recognizing prior experience. During the 2025-26 academic year, Purdue Global awarded more than 1 million credits for prior learning across its programs.
“Purdue Global’s ASN program is a key step in helping people move into nursing degrees and into the workforce as registered nurses,” said Marlo Robinson, dean and vice president of Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. “We work with state nursing officials, community partners and faculty to develop the curriculum with current materials, resources and technology, and to help our students and alumni care for their communities.”
Utilizing technology — including simulation centers and AI and virtual reality and augmented reality experiences — allows students to engage in immersive, interactive simulations from anywhere, extending the benefits of the physical centers to learners regardless of location.
Simulation centers that are partnered with local hospitals give students the chance to apply online classroom knowledge in true-to-life scenarios with high-fidelity manikins. At the centers, students practice clinical decision-making, patient interaction and teamwork in a safe but realistic environment. Students also use Meta Quest headsets with AI technology for their virtual reality simulations.
“Using multiple learning modalities helps students gain the experiences that are so important to their competence going out into practice,” Elliott said.
Purdue Global operates nursing simulation centers at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine; CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Dallas County Hospital in Perry, Iowa; and UnityPoint Health — Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, Iowa.
In 2026, the School of Nursing’s simulation program for its ASN and Master of Science in Nursing programs earned an endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
Technology has become a central part of healthcare, with telehealth and other online healthcare platforms expanding access for patients and allowing new opportunities for nurses to be more responsive.
“The scope of being able to support patients and other nurses has really stretched with the balance that technology has afforded individuals,” said Tiffany Lee, a director in Purdue Global’s Center for Career Advancement. “From leading at the bedside as a front-line leader to leading in healthcare administration, education, research and other leadership roles, there’s just so much you can do with a nursing degree.”
Purdue Global’s flexibility, access, and use of technology in the clinical space prepare nursing students for their next chapters.
“It all comes back to the student experience and the level of support that Purdue Global is able to provide,” Lee said. “We are pros at supporting adult learners and really understanding what that experience means.”
About Purdue Global
Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.