Date of Award

May 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Shannon Grave

Abstract

The persistent shortage of nurses in the United States continues to challenge healthcare systems, workforce stability, and access to care. While many states have invested in strengthening clinical workforce pipelines, the nurse faculty shortage remains a primary constraint on nursing programs’ ability to expand enrollment and graduate enough nurses. State-level approaches to addressing nurse faculty recruitment, preparation, and retention vary widely and are shaped by distinct regulatory, educational, and workforce contexts. This research study examines how state-level policies, regulations, and workforce initiatives address nurse faculty capacity within broader nursing workforce development efforts. Using qualitative document analysis, policy documents regarding nursing education, regulatory structures, and workforce were analyzed to identify patterns in how nurse faculty capacity was addressed across state governance and workforce contexts in five states. The study culminates in an applied policy communication tool consisting of a concise policy analysis and approaches document and study findings snapshot designed for integration into existing state-level policy, workforce, and regulatory advocacy efforts. Rather than proposing a uniform intervention, the final artifact translates research findings into a flexible, practice-facing resource. This resource is intended to support cross-sector policy conversations and context-specific strategies that strengthen nurse faculty capacity as a foundational component of a sustainable healthcare workforce.

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