How Higher Education Can Address America’s Nursing Shortage

How Higher Education Can Address America’s Nursing Shortage

From Career Education Report by Career Education Colleges and Universities ​

April 1, 2026 · 25 min · Episode 105

About this episode

The episode discusses how community colleges can address the nursing shortage in the U.S. through innovative educational strategies.

With nearly 200,000 registered nursing job openings annually, the U.S. nursing shortage is reaching a critical point. On this episode of Career Education Report, host Jason Altmire speaks with Susan Mayer , Chief Learning Officer of Achieving the Dream , which supports over 300 community colleges to create opportunities and remove barriers to learning. Mayer explains how innovations like part-time programs, simulation technology, and credit for prior learning can help colleges expand the capacity of their nursing programs and bring more learners, including CNAs and LPNs already in the workforce, onto an RN pathway. She argues that solving the shortage requires community colleges to rethink not just how they teach, but who they're designing their programs for. To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website .

People in this episode

Host: Jason Altmire

Guest: Susan Mayer

Topics covered

  • nursing shortage
  • community colleges
  • education innovation
  • healthcare workforce
  • registered nursing

Keywords

  • nursing shortage
  • community colleges
  • registered nursing
  • education innovation
  • healthcare workforce

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Achieving the Dream, Career Education Colleges and Universities

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