Nursing shortage strains wider workforce across North Carolina

DURHAM, NC (WTVD) — A nationwide nursing shortage is putting pressure on the health care workforce as North Carolina faces the additional challenge of caring for an aging population.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the nationwide shortage stands at 267,000 nurses.

According to UNC, North Carolina faces an estimated shortage of nearly 12,500 registered nurses by 2033.

For Duke nursing student Jake Benoit, nursing was not always the plan. He played baseball and studied business in college before reevaluating what he wanted from a career.

“I kind of reevaluated my life and all that stuff. What did I want a career, like, to look like? Talked to a lot of nurses and that the whole idea of a team sport is embodied by nursing as well,” Benoit said.

Benoit said working clinicals and studying at Duke comes with a learning curve, but he finds the work rewarding because of the effect he can have on patients and their caregivers.

Neal Shah, CEO of CareYaya, which helps match caregivers with elderly patients, including those with dementia, said the growing number of people reaching retirement age is creating a tipping point.

“When you have a nursing shortage at the hospitals and nursing homes, more people end up staying at home, and more people end up needing more care at home. So, I think it creates a huge challenge. A lot of people that otherwise might be going into a nursing home or assisted living facility are forced to just deal with it at home,” Shah said.

Shah said supporting nurses will require changes to pay, administrative demands, and career opportunities.