Healthcare projections show critical shortages of nursing assistants, nurse practitioners

Editor's Note

The U.S. healthcare sector is projected to experience a shortage of 100,000 workers by 2028, according to an August 29 report by Mercer. This shortfall is expected to affect key roles such as nursing assistants, nurse practitioners, and specialized primary care physicians.

Nursing assistants are projected to have the largest workforce deficit, with a nationwide shortage exceeding 73,000. States like New York, Texas, and California will be among the hardest hit, with expected deficits of over 11,000, 12,000, and 14,000 workers, respectively. This shortage will directly impact patient care, increasing the strain on other healthcare workers, including those in perioperative settings, where nursing assistants are critical to patient preparation and recovery.

The report also highlights a shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in subspecialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and family medicine. California, despite a surplus of healthcare workers overall, will face a deficit of more than 2,500 primary care physicians, with pediatricians and family medicine doctors accounting for more than half of this shortage. These shortages could impact access to specialized care, including preoperative evaluations and ongoing patient management.

While the number of nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 3.5%, a shortage is still projected, further straining healthcare systems. The combined shortages of nurse practitioners and physicians could disrupt preventative care and create gaps in healthcare delivery across the U.S.

In contrast, registered nurses (RNs) and home health aides (HHAs) are expected to see a surplus by 2028, with an excess of nearly 30,000 RNs and 48,000 HHAs. However, the competition for lower-wage workers like HHAs may increase, as healthcare systems will need to offer competitive wages to attract talent.