Addressing the Future Shortage of Licensed Practical Nurses
Kaitlyn Garcia
Rasmussen University
English Composition 1101
William Gamble & Lisa Teitler
May 16th, 2026
, Addressing the Future Shortage of Licensed Practical Nurses
The biggest economic issue foreseen to affect nursing over the next 20 years is the imminent
shortage of licensed practical nurses (LPNs). In view of projected demographic shifts, changing
healthcare needs, and variations in workforce trends, it is evident that the imminent shortage of
licensed practical nurses will have major implications for the healthcare industry as a whole. The health
implications of an LPN shortage go beyond staffing concerns and also include higher healthcare costs,
increased strain on the delivery of optimal care, and reduced health outcomes for all patients. This issue,
therefore, requires serious consideration to facilitate early recognition, planning, and implementation of
policies and reforms, such as expanding LPN training programs, offering loan forgiveness, and improving
workplace conditions, to ensure that more people enter and remain in the nursing profession, in
general, and as licensed practical nurses. The looming shortage requires immediate action in the short
and long term through a multilayered approach that includes education reform and improved working
conditions to avert the economic and health impacts foreseen. In the next two decades, the healthcare
industry will face a significant economic problem due to the increasing shortage of licensed practical
nurses, which will not only strain patient care but also lead to higher healthcare costs and lower overall
health outcomes unless proactive measures, such as enhanced education incentives and improved
workplace conditions, are implemented.
The Projected LPN Shortage: Scope and Causes
Recent workforce projections indicate that the shortage of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in
the United States will intensify over the next two decades, driven by several converging factors. Most
notably, an aging nurse workforce and rapidly increasing demand for healthcare services among older
populations contribute to this anticipated gap. Expert analyses also emphasize that insufficient training
pipelines and limited educational pathways are hindrances to replenishing the LPN workforce, which has
historically been marginalized despite its demonstrated capacity to provide essential care (Wall et al.,
Kaitlyn Garcia
Rasmussen University
English Composition 1101
William Gamble & Lisa Teitler
May 16th, 2026
, Addressing the Future Shortage of Licensed Practical Nurses
The biggest economic issue foreseen to affect nursing over the next 20 years is the imminent
shortage of licensed practical nurses (LPNs). In view of projected demographic shifts, changing
healthcare needs, and variations in workforce trends, it is evident that the imminent shortage of
licensed practical nurses will have major implications for the healthcare industry as a whole. The health
implications of an LPN shortage go beyond staffing concerns and also include higher healthcare costs,
increased strain on the delivery of optimal care, and reduced health outcomes for all patients. This issue,
therefore, requires serious consideration to facilitate early recognition, planning, and implementation of
policies and reforms, such as expanding LPN training programs, offering loan forgiveness, and improving
workplace conditions, to ensure that more people enter and remain in the nursing profession, in
general, and as licensed practical nurses. The looming shortage requires immediate action in the short
and long term through a multilayered approach that includes education reform and improved working
conditions to avert the economic and health impacts foreseen. In the next two decades, the healthcare
industry will face a significant economic problem due to the increasing shortage of licensed practical
nurses, which will not only strain patient care but also lead to higher healthcare costs and lower overall
health outcomes unless proactive measures, such as enhanced education incentives and improved
workplace conditions, are implemented.
The Projected LPN Shortage: Scope and Causes
Recent workforce projections indicate that the shortage of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in
the United States will intensify over the next two decades, driven by several converging factors. Most
notably, an aging nurse workforce and rapidly increasing demand for healthcare services among older
populations contribute to this anticipated gap. Expert analyses also emphasize that insufficient training
pipelines and limited educational pathways are hindrances to replenishing the LPN workforce, which has
historically been marginalized despite its demonstrated capacity to provide essential care (Wall et al.,
