Alabama is on the brink of a severe nursing shortage, with nearly 39,000 nurses predicted to leave the profession over the next four years. The Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) has raised concerns about the potential crisis and is developing multiple strategies to retain existing nurses and attract new ones to the workforce.
According to projections, approximately 25,000 new nursing graduates are expected to enter the field during the period. However, the numbers point to a net loss of around 13,000 nurses — a troubling gap for a state already grappling with healthcare staffing shortages.
According to the Alabama Daily News, several factors appear to be driving this anticipated exodus. Burnout is among the most cited reasons, compounded by the fact that Alabama nurses earn the second-lowest wages in the country, with a median annual salary of $56,570. Financial pressure is so intense that many nurses are taking on second jobs. Survey data reveals that 58,000 Alabama nurses work another job, and 37,000 of those commit more than 32 hours a week to their secondary employment.
In response, the ABN is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to both strengthen the nursing pipeline and make the profession more sustainable. One of the top priorities is a revamp of the Concept-Based Nursing Curriculum used across Alabama’s community colleges. Last updated in 2016, the curriculum is considered effective but outdated in some areas, particularly for training Nursing Support Technicians (NSTs), who work in specialties like patient care or as medical technicians under the supervision of registered nurses.
To address the role of NSTs more effectively, the Board recently launched a statewide certification process aimed at standardizing training and supervision. With roughly 14,000 NSTs working in Alabama, the Board believes these updates could improve the quality and consistency of care while streamlining career paths into full nursing roles.
The ABN is also proposing changes to better align early-stage healthcare training across various entry points, such as NSTs, paramedics, and nursing aides. By standardizing foundational competencies in the early stages of training, the Board aims to facilitate more seamless transitions into nursing programs and ultimately increase the number of qualified nurses.
Incentivizing careers in nursing education is another critical focus. The Alabama Education Loan Repayment Program, established in 2023, offers forgivable loans to nursing students who commit to working as educators for at least two years. Currently funded at $150,000 for fiscal year 2025, the ABN plans to request an increase to $450,000 by fiscal year 2027. The goal is to offset the significant pay difference — often as much as $20,000 to $30,000 annually — between academic and clinical roles, making it more financially viable for experienced nurses to transition into teaching.
With approximately 100,000 practicing nurses in the state, the looming shortage threatens to strain Alabama’s already-stressed healthcare system. The ABN’s proposed reforms aim to strengthen the workforce pipeline before the shortfall reaches a critical point.
As state lawmakers and health education leaders consider the Board’s recommendations, the future of nursing in Alabama hinges on swift and coordinated action.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
