Nurse Readiness Crisis Report: Executive Summary

The demand for highly skilled nurses who are prepared to care for an aging and acutely ill patient population has never been higher. It's imperative that new graduate nurses hit the ground running, equipped with the competence and confidence to deliver safe and effective patient care from day one. Yet, for many nurses, the transition from nursing school to the high-stakes reality of clinical practice can feel like being thrown into the deep end of patient care before they’ve learned how to swim.

Only 9% of newly graduated nurses demonstrate entry-level competencies and practice readiness - and the shock of transitioning into clinical practice can cause new nurses to consider leaving the profession¹, contributing to an 18.4% nurse turnover rate in the United States². 

Enhancing nurse readiness is the critical path to improving patient outcomes and stabilizing the nursing workforce. In an effort to understand how to address this challenge, UbiSim surveyed 800 nursing students and new nurses in August 2024, examining what's holding them back and identifying gaps in their educational experience. The Nurse Readiness Crisis³ Report presents findings that reveal what recent graduates and current students say is missing - and what could move the needle for them to fully succeed.

Exploring the Nurse Readiness Crisis: Featured Findings from the Full Report

I. The Nursing Faculty Shortage is Fueling Students’ Intent to Drop Out

More than 59% of nursing schools reported a faculty shortage in the 2023-2024 year⁴, but with faculty stretched thin and student-to-educator ratios rising, many students feel isolated during nursing school. In the Nurse Readiness Crisis, three in ten nursing students surveyed said they have considered dropping out of their programs.

• 47% who considered dropping out of nursing school attributed their struggles to a lack of support
• 75% said more access to instructors would have made a meaningful difference in their education 
• 80% said that more guidance from instructors would have significantly improved their academic performance

II. Nurses Don’t Feel Ready for Practice Despite Coursework & Clinical Rotations

After completing their education and clinical rotations, stepping into a full-time nursing role brings challenges that the classroom and even supervised clinicals couldn’t fully prepare them for. In the Nurse Readiness Crisis, recent nurse graduates paint a sobering picture of what it’s like to transition from the classroom to the clinic:

• 42% of nurses considered quitting during their first year on the job, with 31% of these nurses citing inadequate preparation for the realities of the job as a primary reason 
• 38% felt unprepared to handle abusive patients or distressed family members
• 35% felt unprepared to manage end-of-life scenarios

III. Nurses Want More Realistic Preparation for Patient Care

The gap between didactic learning and hands-on experience has significant consequences for nursing programs. In the Nurse Readiness Crisis, both students and recent graduates express a lack of confidence in their skills, underscoring the critical need for more hands-on, practical preparation.

• 21% of those who dropped out or considered dropping out of nursing school cited difficulty in applying classroom knowledge to practical situations as a key reason
• 31% of those who dropped out or considered doing so said that access to realistic scenarios in immersive VR simulation could have changed their decision
• 85% of current students and recent graduates who didn’t have access to immersive simulation technology said it would have been a significant benefit to them

IV. Looking Ahead: The Nurse Readiness Crisis

The consequences of the gap between nursing education and the hands-on experience needed to navigate real-world situations are felt deeply by nurses as well as healthcare systems struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels. Insights from the Nurse Readiness Crisis Report offer a way forward - helping nursing programs bridge the divide between the classroom and the unpredictable, high-pressure nature of actual patient care. 

Download the full report to discover:

• Why - and how many - nursing students and new nurses consider quitting 
• What nursing students say they need most
• Where new nurses say they struggle the most  
• How nursing programs can bridge the gap between classroom and clinical practice  

Read the full report

Footnotes:

1. Kavanagh, J.M., Sharpnack, P.A., (January 31, 2021) "Crisis in Competency: A Defining Moment in Nursing Education" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 26, No. 1, Manuscript 2.
2. Carthon, J. M. B., Hatfield, L., Plover, C., Dierkes, A., Davis, L., Hedgeland, T., ... & Aiken, L. H. (2019). Association of nurse engagement and nurse staffing on patient safety. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 34(1), 40-46.
3. UbiSim and Labster ApS. (2024, October 8). The Nurse Readiness Crisis: What nursing students say they need to be patient-ready [Survey report].
4. Byrne, C., Keyt, J., & Fang, D. (2023, October). Special survey on vacant faculty positions for academic year 2023–2024. American Association of Colleges of Nursing.