MD Nurse Shortage To Reach 15K By 2036, New Report Says

MARYLAND — The shortage of registered nurses in Maryland is projected to continue over the coming years, according to a new analysis that claims in 12 years, the state will need nearly 15,000 more to meet demand.

The report from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, projects the country will have a shortage of 337,970 full-time registered nurses by 2036.

Maryland is among states projected to have the largest shortage, according to the report.

Using data from the Workforce Projections Dashboard, officials determined Maryland will have the eighth-largest shortage of registered nurses in the United States by 2036. According to the data, the state will have a 20 percent shortage — or 14,700 full-time RNs.

Georgia is predicted to have the largest shortage at 29 percent, followed by California and Washington at 26 percent.

According to the report, the demand for licensed practical and vocational nurses is also projected to grow faster than supply between 2021 and 2036, resulting in a projected shortage of 99,070 full-time LPNs in 2036.

Despite national shortages of RNs and LPNs, the numbers vary significantly depending on the state. While Georgia is projected to have the greatest shortage, data shows a 42 percent oversupply of RNs in North Dakota.

Non-metro areas are also projected to have a higher shortage of RNs than metro areas through 2036, according to the data.

Similar to RNs, the projected supply for LPNs varies considerably across states, ranging

from a 75 percent shortage in Maine to a 65 percent oversupply in Oklahoma in 2036.

See the full report online.