Nursing shortage aggravated by the pandemic While the pandemic exacerbated the nursing shortage, especially showcasing the need for nurses with critical care training and community health experience, it did not create the shortage. and last updated 2021-05-12 00:18:50-04 KANSAS CITY, Mo. â This past year the pandemic put nursing in the forefront, highlighting the profession and the need for more nurses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 500,000 seasoned registered nurses are expected to retire by 2022, which means there will be more registered nurse jobs available than any other profession. To avoid a nursing shortage, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.1 million new registered nurses would need to replace retirees.