From RN Shortages to Faculty Gaps

Why Louisiana’s Healthcare Future Depends on Nurse Educators

As demand for registered nurses (RNs) continues to grow, so does the need for qualified nurse educators. Across the country and in Louisiana, nursing schools face a common challenge: finding enough faculty to prepare the next generation of nurses.

Without enough educators, schools may struggle to expand enrollment, limiting the number of nurses entering the workforce. LSU Health New Orleans is helping address this need through its online Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Educator concentration, which prepares experienced nurses for expanded roles in nursing education and leadership.

For nurses looking to make an impact beyond direct patient care, the online DNP Nurse Educator program offers an opportunity to build on their clinical experience, develop educational expertise, and help shape the future of nursing education and workforce development.

Louisiana’s Growing RN Shortage

The demand for registered nurses (RNs) continues to grow across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects approximately 189,100 RN job openings each year from 2024 to 2034, reflecting both the need for more nurses and the need to replace those leaving the profession.

Louisiana also faces workforce challenges. According to the Louisiana Health Works Commission’s 2025 report, the state is projected to have approximately 3,700 annual registered-nurse job openings. This highlights the importance of strengthening nursing education and workforce development programs to prepare enough qualified nurses to meet Louisiana’s current and future healthcare needs.

Meeting that demand takes more than interested students. Nursing schools need qualified faculty, clinical learning opportunities, and educational resources to prepare future nurses. Through its DNP Nurse Educator concentration, LSU Health New Orleans helps strengthen the pipeline of educators needed to support Louisiana’s nursing workforce.

The Faculty Gap Limiting Nursing Education

Nursing schools also face challenges finding enough qualified faculty. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) 2025 Faculty Vacancy Survey, responding schools reported a national faculty vacancy rate of 7.2%.

AACN also found that nursing schools needed an additional 150 faculty positions to accommodate student demand, underscoring how staffing gaps can make it harder for programs to grow.

Faculty members do much more than teach classes. They supervise clinical experiences, develop curricula, mentor students, and help ensure graduates are prepared for practice. When faculty positions remain open, schools may have fewer opportunities to expand programs or admit additional qualified applicants.

That creates a challenge for the broader healthcare workforce: Healthcare organizations need more nurses, but nursing schools need enough educators to prepare them. Strengthening the nurse educator pipeline can help schools address faculty vacancies and better meet student demand.

Why Doctorally Prepared Nurse Educators Are Critical

Doctorally prepared nurse educators bring advanced knowledge and leadership skills to nursing education. They help develop curricula, apply evidence-based teaching practices, evaluate academic programs, and prepare students for increasingly complex healthcare environments.

The need for these qualifications is reflected in AACN’s 2025 survey, which found that 80.9% of reported faculty vacancies required or preferred a doctoral degree. Requirements vary by institution and position, but doctoral preparation can help nurses pursue faculty roles that call for advanced academic credentials.

For experienced nurses, pursuing a doctorate can also open opportunities beyond direct patient care. Teaching and mentoring future nurses allows them to share their clinical experience, improve educational practices, and contribute to the future of the profession.

Strengthening the Pipeline Through Advanced Education

LSU Health New Orleans’ online Post-Master’s DNP Nurse Educator concentration offers practice-focused doctoral preparation in leadership, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and nursing education.

The program builds on nurses’ clinical experience while developing skills relevant to teaching, curriculum development, and educational leadership. This preparation can help experienced nurses pursue educator roles and contribute to nursing programs.

Preparing more qualified educators can help schools address faculty vacancies and may create opportunities to expand enrollment. While earning a DNP does not automatically qualify graduates for every faculty position or guarantee that schools can admit more students, it can provide valuable preparation for nurses interested in education and leadership.

How LSU Health New Orleans Is Addressing the Challenge

LSU Health New Orleans offers an online DNP Nurse Educator concentration for eligible nurses looking to advance their expertise in nursing education and leadership. The online format provides flexibility for nurses balancing doctoral study with professional responsibilities.

Through advanced preparation, nurses can develop competencies in teaching, evidence-based practice, curriculum development, and educational improvement. Those who pursue educator roles can help mentor students, strengthen learning experiences, and prepare future nursing professionals.

By supporting nurses interested in education and leadership, LSU Health New Orleans contributes to broader efforts to strengthen Louisiana’s nursing education pipeline.

Preparing Nurse Educators, Strengthening the Workforce

Louisiana needs qualified nurses to meet its future healthcare demands, and nursing schools need qualified educators to prepare them. Addressing faculty shortages is an important part of helping the state build a stronger nursing workforce.

LSU Health New Orleans’ online Post-Master’s DNP Nurse Educator concentration gives eligible nurses an opportunity to build on their clinical experience and develop skills in teaching, curriculum development, and educational leadership. This preparation can help them pursue roles that support the next generation of nurses.

Ready to make an impact beyond the bedside? Learn more about LSU Health New Orleans’ online DNP Nurse Educator program and discover how you can help prepare tomorrow’s nurses.