Nurses in Crisis: Policy Proposals to Address Burnout, Staffing Shortages, and the Mounting Pressures on North Carolina’s Nursing Workforce

North Carolina’s nursing workforce faces a growing shortage driven by pipeline constraints, uneven distribution, and retention challenges. Misaligned policies further hinder progress. Targeted investments and policy decisions can expand education capacity, modernize regulations, and improve workforce sustainability to ensure access to care, reduce costs, and secure the future of health care delivery.