For decades, North Carolina’s nursing workforce has struggled to meet the demands of our growing state. Today, it’s no longer a crisis mounting in the future; the constraints are already felt by nurse employers, educators, and the millions of North Carolinians who depend on skilled nursing care.
Following the recommendations of the NCIOM Task Force report on the Future of the Nursing Workforce, the NC Center on the Workforce for Health established the NC Nursing Workforce Coordinating Council (NWCC) in spring 2026.1
The NWCC is a statewide, nurse-led group of nursing leaders, educators, employers, healthcare executives, researchers, and representatives from key state agencies. The 26 members of the NWCC advise the Center on the Workforce for Health on strategic alignment, data review and application, and thought leadership. Moreover, the NWCC is charged with taking action on recommendations from the Nursing Workforce Task Force report, the Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership Council, and the NC Health Talent Alliance.
Over the next year, the NWCC has elected to focus its efforts on improving nurse retention. Subsequently, we formed three action teams around new nurse retention (i.e. transition to practice and first year retention of new nursing graduates), supply side effects on retention (i.e. how pathways, training, and education impact retention), and compensation for public sector nurses. Leveraging their leadership positions and wide networks, NWCC members are well-positioned to influence policies and investments on nursing retention.
In addition to serving on the NWCC, several members have contributed commentaries to the recent NCMJ issue on North Carolina’s Nursing Workforce.2 Select articles from members shown below:
Through coordinated action, the NWCC will accelerate solutions to our state’s nursing workforce challenges, making North Carolina an even better place for nurses to work, advance their careers, and feel valued in their profession.
If you’re interested in getting involved with the work of the NWCC, we invite you to join our statewide advisory network for the latest developments.
Learn more about the NC Center on the Workforce for Health
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Written by
Patrick Y. Tang, MPH
Project Director, NCIOM
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