In response to a growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, Fayetteville Technical Community College is expanding its Associate Degree Nursing program, increasing enrollment from 280 to 400 full-time students. This expansion comes at a critical time: North Carolina is projected to face a 23% shortage of registered nurses by 2036 — the fourth-largest RN shortage in the nation.
For Cumberland County and surrounding areas, the looming shortage could lead to longer hospital wait times, heavier workloads for current staff, and challenges in maintaining high-quality care.
Without enough nurses, timely access to healthcare services is at risk, highlighting the urgent need to invest in nursing education and support local healthcare workers. FTCC’s expanded ADN program is a key step toward filling these gaps by preparing more highly qualified nurses to enter the healthcare workforce.
In September 2024, FTCC opened a new Nursing Education Annex, adding 6,000 square feet of space to support increased enrollment. The annex complements the Nursing Education and Simulation Center—a state-of-the-art facility with seven classrooms, two computer labs, eleven simulation labs, and two debriefing rooms…