Nursing CEU at CheapNursingCEUs analyzed data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing on the total number of registered nurses and nurse practitioners in each state. They compared these figures to population data to reveal the number of nurses per 100,000 people in each state. The states with the lowest rate of nurses were identified as having the worst nurse shortages.
Utah ranks number one, with just 1,340 nurses per 100,000 people. The state has 44,238 registered nurses and 2,712 nurse practitioners, a total of 46,950.
Washington is second, with 1,462 nurses per 100,000 people. There are 116,382 nurses in Washington overall, with 106,126 being registered nurses and 10,256 being nurse practitioners.
Georgia comes third, with 1,533 nurses per 100,000 residents. This figure includes 144,055 registered nurses and 27,293 nurse practitioners, which is 171,348 overall.
The top ten states with the worst nurse shortages:
| Rank | State | Nurses per 100,000 people |
| 1 | Utah | 1,340 |
| 2 | Washington | 1,462 |
| 3 | Georgia | 1,533 |
| 4 | Wyoming | 1,543 |
| 5 | Maryland | 1,615 |
| 6 | Colorado | 1,637 |
| 7 | Texas | 1,667 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 1,675 |
| 9 | Virginia | 1,677 |
| 10 | Arizona | 1,686 |
Wyoming is next, with 1,543 nurses per 100,000 people. There are 8,357 registered nurses and 712 nurse practitioners in Wyoming, a total of 9,069.
Maryland places fifth, with 1,615 nurses per 100,000 residents. Overall, Maryland has 101,145 nurses, with 89,957 being registered nurses and 11,188 being nurse practitioners.
Colorado follows, with 1,637 nurses per 100,000 residents. Colorado is home to 90,002 registered nurses and 7,511 nurse practitioners, which is 97,513 in total.
Texas takes seventh place, with 1,667 nurses per 100,000 people. There are 420,581 registered nurses and 101,149 nurse practitioners in the state, equal to a total of 521,730.
North Carolina is up next, with 1,675 nurses per 100,000 people. North Carolina has 185,007 nurses overall, including 162,197 registered nurses and 22,810 nurse practitioners.
Virginia is ninth, with 1,677 nurses per 100,000 people. In this state, there are 121,591 registered nurses and 26,197 nurse practitioners, which is 147,788 in total.
Arizona rounds out the top ten, with 1,686 nurses per 100,000 residents. This is equal to a total of 127,834 nurses in Arizona, with 116,708 being registered nurses and 11,126 being nurse practitioners.
The state with the highest rate of nurses is Hawaii, with 2,967 per 100,000 residents. Closely following are New York and Alaska, at 2,918 and 2,801, respectively.
“The top ten states facing the most critical nurse shortages are split evenly between the West and the South, which is an unmistakable sign that these regions are under intense pressure,” said a representative from the organization. “In stark contrast, the bottom ten states with the best nurse-to-population ratios are clustered in the Northeast and Midwest, revealing a striking regional divide in healthcare staffing. Utah ranks dead last with only 1,340 nurses per 100,000 residents. That’s a jaw-dropping 55% fewer nurses than Hawaii, which boasts the best ratio in the country, and a full 35% below the national average of 2,057. The gap is as alarming as it is telling.”
Of course, fewer nurses mean longer patient wait times, higher stress levels for those on the front lines, and increased risk of burnout. But there is a silver lining: job opportunities abound.
If you’re a nurse (or training to be one) and open to relocating, these high-need states could offer you not just employment, but a chance to make a massive impact where it’s needed most.”
