The Atlanta metropolitan area, including Sandy Springs, is experiencing an urgent nursing shortage, ranking Georgia among the top 10 states with the largest projected shortage of registered nurses by 2036. Hospitals in metro Atlanta and facilities in suburban areas are reporting difficulty filling shifts, with Georgia employing only about 7.6 nurses for every 1,000 people and facing a projected need for over 13,000 additional nurses by 2030. With an aging population and increased demand for healthcare services, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Georgia.

Herzing University-Atlanta is leading the way with a clear solution to grow the pipeline of registered nurses in the coming years. As the Sandy Springs location celebrated its one-year anniversary this fall, Herzing is setting the standard for what it means to grow a resilient, future-ready nursing community.

How do they achieve this? Herzing University has eliminated one of the biggest barriers to nursing education: the wait list. Their no wait list model allows motivated and qualified applicants to transition immediately into classrooms and clinical sites, so students can begin coursework right away and step into the workforce faster. With flexible learning, accelerated pathways and hands-on training, students gain the essential skills needed to make a real-world difference. For local communities, this means accelerating the flow of new nurses into healthcare systems, resulting in more hands on deck, more timely care and stronger continuity of services.

Education Designed for Real Life

Today’s nontraditional learners are likely juggling the responsibilities of work, family and other obligations. Herzing’s model reflects an understanding of this reality. Students may have the option to complete general education coursework online and the flexibility to study at their own pace. Most importantly, students can apply their learning in clinical rotations at local hospitals and clinics across metro Atlanta, creating a mutually beneficial cycle where the community receives immediate, high-quality care from locally invested nurses. This approach provides accessibility for students, a workforce pipeline for hospitals and better outcomes for graduates with fresh skills and local familiarity. 

Bridging Education and Opportunity in Nursing

Upskilling is an ongoing journey that can shape careers for a lifetime. Herzing offers several nursing pathways, from entry-level diplomas to advanced practice degrees. Herzing–Atlanta is also expanding its nursing offerings with the addition of the BSN Bridge programs and the Accelerated BSN program. 

Herzing’s nursing pathways may allow students to build on prior coursework and professional experience as they climb the career ladder, all while balancing their personal and professional lives.

The impact is significant. In 2025, Herzing expects to graduate 4,000 new nurses nationwide, with an additional 6,000 in training. 

Growing State, Growing Demands

Every delay in nursing education is a delay in patient care. Georgia’s population is aging rapidly, with nearly 20% expected to be over age 65 by 2030. This demographic shift will drive up demand for care in hospitals, primary care offices and long-term care facilities. Without enough trained professionals, wait times can grow, provider burnout can worsen and patient outcomes could suffer.

By accelerating training and embedding it locally, Herzing uplifts Atlanta’s healthcare infrastructure. Students graduate with knowledge and hands-on confidence, ready to staff a busy ER, assist in community health clinics and more. Their preparation helps strengthen the system from the inside out.

So, What Can We Do?

The nursing shortage in Georgia demands bold, flexible localized solutions. Herzing University is rising to that challenge in Sandy Springs and Atlanta by:

  • Removing wait lists so students can start immediately;
  • Blending online flexibility with local hands-on learning;
  • Offering stackable pathways that encourage advancement; and
  • Partnering with area healthcare systems to anchor nurses in their own communities.

Herzing’s approach is founded on an education-meets-workforce strategy. By training nurses where they live and ensuring they can progress without interruption, Herzing is helping Georgia build a stronger healthcare system.

For aspiring nurses, it means opportunity. For hospitals, it means support. And for communities, it means something even more important: care that is close, consistent and compassionate.

Through initiatives like these, Georgia can begin to meet its growing healthcare needs and ensure that every community – from the heart of Atlanta to its surrounding suburbs – has the nurses it needs to thrive.