Every year, the U.S. needs nearly 189,100 new RNs. Yet in 2023 alone, more than 65,000 qualified applicants were turned away- not for lack of interest, but because programs lacked seats, faculty, and simulation space. The shortage isn’t about motivation; it’s about capacity.
The good news: capacity can grow. Across the country, nursing schools are expanding enrollment through smart renovations and well-planned additions that increase seating capacity without shutting down classrooms. This is where facilities shift from “real estate” to strategy—and where Wellogy helps schools design the high-fidelity labs and flexible classrooms that make growth possible.
What follows: the challenge in numbers, the opportunity to grow or launch programs, how Ohio is responding, and how Wellogy can help.
THE CHALLENGE (national view, right now)
There’s intense, sustained demand for nurses—and a training system straining to keep up. The numbers underscore the opportunity:
- ~189,100 RN openings every year (2024–2034) in the U.S. (replacement + growth). Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Shortage persists through 2037, with non-metro deficits larger than metro areas (e.g., 13% vs. 5% projected RN gaps). Bureau of Health Workforce
- Ohio snapshot: about 9,000 RN positions were unfilled heading into 2025. Ohio University
- Education bottleneck: 65,766 qualified nursing applications were not accepted in 2023 due to limited faculty, clinical sites, and space (AACN notes these are applications, not unique applicants). AACN
Interest is healthy. If we add seats, faculty pipelines, and modern learning environments, we can materially grow the supply.
THE OPPORTUNITY (grow existing programs—or launch new ones)
With the right plan, you can expand capacity without pausing instruction or breaking the budget.
- Grow seats & faculty pipelines to convert qualified applicants into graduates. (Direct response to AACN’s acceptance bottleneck.) AACN
- Modernize facilities with high-fidelity sim labs, pre-brief/debrief, skills & testing rooms, and flexible classrooms.
- Tighten clinical pathways (designated rotation slots, early offers, job guarantees) so learners step straight into local roles.
How long does it take?
- Targeted renovation (fastest path): on the order of ~12–24 months, depending on scope. Example: Wellogy’s project- Brasee Hall (OU–Lancaster) moved from design in 2022 to construction in 2024, converting 4th–5th floors into instructional nursing labs plus observation/testing with pre-/post-simulation support.
- Major addition / vertical expansion: ~24–36 months for complex, high-capacity builds. Example: Wellogy’s project– Prior Health Sciences Library (OSU)—a 54,300-sf vertical expansion (design to construction- 3 years) delivering state-of-the-art simulation and clinical teaching space.
HOW OHIO IS RESPONDING
Across the state, leaders are treating facilities as workforce strategy—expanding seats, upgrading simulation, and strengthening pathways to practice.
- Ohio University (Lancaster)- Brasee Hall: expanded nursing on the Lancaster campus converting parts of the 4th & 5th floors into two instructional nursing labs, two observation/testing rooms, and supporting space— and supporting space—a targeted renovation that adds capacity fast. Ohio University+1
- The Ohio State University: announced a plan to increase nursing graduates from 176 to 320 and pair it with designated rotations, early offers, and job guarantees at Wexner Medical Center. The Lantern+1
- Columbus State + OhioHealth: an 80,000-sf OhioHealth Center for Health Sciences to help double healthcare graduates in 10 years (nursing included). Columbus State Community College+1
- Wright State + Premier Health: a $25M, two-year investment aligned to grow regional healthcare training capacity. Premier Health+1
HOW WELLOGY CAN HELP
We help clients add capacity—quickly, safely, and within real budgets.
What we deliver
- Add seats fast with right-sized renovations and sim-centric layouts. Brasee Hall (OU–Lancaster) created state-of-the-art instructional nursing labs plus spaces for pre-brief, scenario training, observation, testing, and debrief, prioritized under a master plan for near-term capacity and future growth.
- Keep you open while you grow via phasing and risk mitigation. Prior Hall (OSU) was constructed over a fully occupied facility, maintaining conditioned air and protecting critical assets throughout.
- Elevate performance & recruiting with resilient, high-quality environments—e.g., LEED Gold performance and an ASA-endorsed simulation center at Prior Hall.
Your next step
Whether you’re increasing seats in an existing program or launching a new site, we’ll help you align people + partnerships + place—so every square foot teaches, and every learner is practice-ready on day one.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook — ~189,100 openings/year (2024–2034). Bureau of Labor Statistics
- HRSA/NCHWA, Nurse Workforce Projections 2022–2037 — national RN shortage persists; non-metro gaps larger; projected FTE shortfall. Bureau of Health Workforce
- AACN, Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet — 65,766 qualified applications not accepted in 2023. AACN
- Ohio University News, Nursing shortages: A threat to patient care — ~9,000 RN positions unfilled across Ohio. Ohio University
- OSU – State of the University coverage — plan to grow nursing output to 320 with Wexner job pathways. The Lantern+1
- Columbus State/OhioHealth — 80,000-sf center; goal to double healthcare graduates. Columbus State Community College+1
- Wright State/Premier Health — $25M partnership to expand training capacity. Premier Health+1