UC College of Nursing Ramps Up to Meet Growing Nursing Shortage

Schools like UC are working to train more nurses as hospitals across the country face a national shortage.

Mar. 4, 2026 at 8:50am

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WCPO spoke with faculty and students at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing about the education pipeline needed to train more nurses to meet a growing demand. The American Association of College of Nurses reports the nation is projected to experience a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for health care grows. UC College of Nursing has received grant funding and is working to expand its nursing programs to help address this shortage.

Why it matters

The nursing shortage is a critical issue facing the healthcare industry, as an aging population and increased demand for medical services are straining the supply of qualified nurses. Schools like UC are playing a vital role in training the next generation of nurses to meet this growing need and support the healthcare system.

The details

UC College of Nursing has received over $193,000 in grant funding from the Ohio Board of Nursing for its UC N.E.X.T: Nursing Education Expansion through Experiential Training program. The college also has strong relationships with healthcare providers in the Greater Cincinnati area, and its nursing students have a near 100% placement rate upon graduation. UC is offering an accelerated 18-month Master's of Nursing program to help quickly train new nurses, and the college is working to expand its nursing education programs to meet the high demand.

  • The nursing shortage is a long-standing issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • UC College of Nursing received the $193,000 grant from the Ohio Board of Nursing in 2026.

The players

UC College of Nursing

A nursing school at the University of Cincinnati that is working to expand its programs and graduate more nurses to meet the growing demand.

Dr. Donna Green

The associate dean of undergraduate and prelicensure programs at UC College of Nursing.

Dr. Lindsay Davis

The assistant dean of APRN Curriculum at UC College of Nursing.

Thomas Snyder

A student enrolled in the 18-month accelerated Master's of Nursing program at UC College of Nursing, who previously served as an Army flight critical care paramedic.

TriHealth

A healthcare provider in the Greater Cincinnati area that recently held a hiring blitz to fill nursing positions at its facilities.

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What they’re saying

“The pandemic just kind of heightened what we already have projected, which was the increasing in retirement of the nurses in the workforce.”

— Dr. Donna Green, Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Prelicensure Programs, UC College of Nursing

“I think one of the most important things is that the new graduates understand that there are options out there, they can really find where they feel that they fit best.”

— Dr. Lindsay Davis, Assistant Dean of APRN Curriculum, UC College of Nursing

“I've flown with nurses for 17 years now, and my mother was a nurse, my grandmother was a nurse for 45 years, so it was either that or construction.”

— Thomas Snyder

What’s next

UC College of Nursing plans to continue expanding its nursing education programs and partnerships with healthcare providers in the region to help address the growing nursing shortage.

The takeaway

The nursing shortage is a critical issue facing the healthcare industry, and schools like UC College of Nursing are playing a vital role in training the next generation of nurses to meet this growing demand. By expanding their programs and leveraging partnerships, UC is helping to ensure the healthcare system has the qualified nurses it needs to provide quality care to patients.