Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is underway with renovations to its nursing school, aiming to increase enrollment by 70% by fall 2029. The expansion is in response to Texas’ projected need for 307,520 registered nurses by 2038.

Nursing Shortage in Texas

Texas is facing a shortage of over 21,000 nurses, with a projected supply of 286,210 registered nurses compared to the projected demand of 307,520. The shortage is expected to begin in 2028 for licensed vocational nurses.

The SHSU nursing school’s enrollment will grow from 425 to around 720 students once the expansion is completed. The renovation project will increase the teaching space at The Woodlands Center from 9,600 square feet to 35,600 square feet, adding new skills and simulation labs, as well as classrooms.

Addressing the Shortage

SHSU is also working to address the nursing shortage by increasing the number of nursing faculty through the Shared Nursing Academic Practice Partnership Initiative (SNAPPI). The initiative allows nurses to train students while still working at their hospitals.

The university has completed the first year of its two-year $999,500 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board’s Nursing Innovation Program Grants. The next goal is to find sustained funding for the program to scale it statewide.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Houston — read the source article.