Middle Tennessee’s healthcare workforce needs help on two fronts: preparing new nurses and strengthening the skills of people already on the job. A planned nursing campus in Nashville and a training initiative involving Williamson County employers reflect efforts to address both.

The Tennessee Hospital Association projects the shortage in a state where more than 80,000 new healthcare and social assistance jobs are expected by 2030, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The gap has prompted new investment in both existing workers and future nurses across Middle Tennessee.

Chamberlain University, which describes itself as America's largest school of nursing, announced Sept. 9 that it will open a Nashville campus, its first in Tennessee and 27th location nationwide, according to a company announcement. Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) classes are set to begin Jan. 4, 2027, with day, evening and weekend options and rolling admission up to six times a year. The university describes it as a three-year path to a BSN.

"Every community has people who want to become a nurse, and a healthcare system that needs more of them, including in Nashville," Amelia Manning, Chamberlain's president, said in a statement to Business Wire.

The demand is steep. According to a Covista survey conducted by Gallup, Nashville had 16 open healthcare positions for every new healthcare graduate. Statewide, Tennessee had more than three open healthcare jobs for every person looking for one.

Nurse.org ranked Tennessee 12th in nursing workforce strain in a 2026 benchmark, citing the THA's projected 8,500 registered-nurse shortfall as the state's primary signal.

Williamson County employers already training

Closer to home, a completed state training initiative reached several Williamson County healthcare providers. The Tennessee Talent Initiative, funded through TDLWD's Incumbent Worker Training program, awarded $244,713 in grants that provided specialized training to 211 clinical and nonclinical employees at hospitals and care facilities statewide.

Williamson Health, Greystone Foster Care and HCA Health Services–TriStar Health, all based in Williamson County, were among 10 participating employers. Vanderbilt University Medical Center and two Ascension Saint Thomas facilities in Davidson County also took part.

TDLWD Commissioner Deniece Thomas said in a department statement that investing in incumbent workers is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the state's workforce while helping employers meet current challenges.

Marla Rye, executive director of the Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Development Board, said the partnership with THA produced measurable results. The board connected hospitals with training tailored to their workforce needs.

Ferrol Thomas, THA's director of workforce strategies, said the collaboration helps hospitals retain staff and deliver care across Tennessee, particularly in rural communities.

What's next

Chamberlain's Nashville campus began accepting applications Sept. 9. Dr. Virginia Ruth Corey, the campus dean of academic affairs, said in the announcement that students will train in a simulation center on campus and complete clinical rotations with local health system partners.

The first Chamberlain BSN cohort begins classes Jan. 4, 2027.