Top 2025 Nursing Trends - Are You Ready for the Future of Nursing?

As we prepare to ring in the new year, many of us pause to take stock of our lives. We ask questions like, “Am I where I want to be in my career or personal life?”, “How can I make life more fulfilling?”, “What should I change in 2025?”, and “How can I be better off at the end of this year than I am right now?”. Statistically, one-third of Americans make resolutions every year at this time, but you can set a goal for a better life any time —- not just at the start of a new year. 

We believe nursing has a bright future in 2025 and beyond, but the profession is shifting. Nurses with higher education levels, technological expertise, a willingness to learn and adapt will 

What we know about nursing in 2025

We know that the demand for high-quality nursing care is increasing and there still remains a shortage of trained nurses. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for LPNs will grow at an average rate of 3% while jobs for RNs will increase 6% —- nearly double the national average growth across all occupations. This expected growth combined with the need to replace nurses leaving the profession is expected to result in 54,000 job openings for LPNs and 194,500 job openings for RNs each year for the next 10 years. 

Top 2025 Nursing Trends

The nursing profession is changing. In 2025, the use of technology will continue to impact the nursing workforce with a rise in telehealth nursing, AI, wearable technology, and advances in EHRs. There will also be a greater focus on the nurse as a person with increased attention to nurse mental health and education. Finally, we will see more focus on improving the growing nursing shortage, more demand for holistic care from patients, and an increase in the need for better sustainability across healthcare including nursing. 

Telehealth Nursing will become increasingly popular

The Covid-19 pandemic greatly increased the need for the telehealth industry, and nursing is a key player. While many have gone back to working in traditional in-person jobs, there remain many remote work opportunities for nurses —- and the telehealth nursing field continues to grow. And while telehealth nursing will never replace in-person care, it has become a desired convenience among patients since it experienced a 154% growth in 2020, especially in rural areas, and it often successfully reduces unnecessary exposure to pathogens. 

Greater access to nurse education and training 

As the demand for highly-trained and qualified nurses continues to rise, the education and technology sectors are also rising to meet the needs of nurses who need advanced training. Remote learning opportunities will become the norm for nurses seeking to move ahead in their careers. Training will become more diverse and better options will be available for nurses who want to begin an LPN to RN Bridge program, RN to BSN Bridge program, or even an LPN to NP program entirely online while continuing to work full time. 

The need for education opportunities will extend beyond just nurses wishing to advance to aspiring nurses as well. More flexible options like an online CNA to RN Bridge program, Surgical Tech to RN Bridge program, and Paramedic to RN program will provide a clear path for others wishing to enter the nursing field. 

Increased use of technology 

As with most industries, technology will play an increasing role in the way nurses perform their healthcare jobs in 2025. From AI to EHR, technology is improving healthcare and saving patient lives. Nurses who embrace technology and get the training needed to use it properly will be in high demand this year. 

AI

AI is already being used in many healthcare settings and its usefulness will continue to grow. For example, AI tools like the Rothman Index are currently using previous and current health data from EHRs to detect patient conditions. AI is also enhancing predictive analytics to forecast patient health outcomes and give nurses a more accurate picture of what interventions and improvements in care will make the greatest impact. 2025 will likely bring significant improvements in patient management using AI technology. 

Wearable Technology

Wearable devices like Smartwatches and the Oura ring track vital signs in real time and can alert wearers of abnormal readings. These technologies empower users to take charge of their health and alert healthcare providers of any changes in a more timely manner. They are already reducing hospital visits and making healthcare more efficient, and this trend is only expected to increase.  

EHRs

Electronic Health Records have become standard because of their ability to coordinate care among healthcare teams and improve patient care overall. EHRs are expected to become better able to quickly communicate patient data and trends among different providers and even across healthcare systems. 

Increased demand for holistic care

The latest trend in patient requests for holistic and alternative medicine will continue to gain ground in 2025. This will require nurses to learn about these alternative methods of care and complimentary therapies that can affect overall health including, but not limited to: acupuncture, meditation, yoga, massage therapy, and natural supplements. These methods are becoming increasingly popular as a way to enhance not just physical but mental health of patients and nurses must ensure they understand the latest advances in this type of care. 

Focus on Nurses’ mental health

Burnout among those in the nursing profession remains a critical issue. Healthcare and the nursing profession specifically provides a high-stress environment that contributes to mental health challenges. In 2025, hospitals and other healthcare facilities will increase support services and systems by implementing better wellness programs that focus on mental health and working to address the staffing shortages that have plagued the profession in recent years. 

As healthcare facilities continue to put greater emphasis on nurse wellbeing, we could see them explore flexible scheduling options, on-site childcare, access to mental health professionals, and enhanced technology designed to ease workload in addition to wellness programs. 

Sustainability in healthcare

According to a report conducted by the group Healthcare Without Harm, the healthcare sector contributes 4.4 percent of  global net greenhouse gas emissions which is one of the largest environmental footprints on the planet. Significant progress was made in 2024 to adopt more eco-friendly practices, and this trend will continue in 2025. 

Nurses can do a lot to help by advocating for reusable supplies in an effort to reduce the 5 million tons of waste U.S. hospitals generate each year. They can also implement energy saving protocols such as turning off unused equipment and educating patients on proper medication disposal and recycling practices. Sustainable facilities save money by cutting down on waste and energy use, and this money can be reinvested on improving work environments and hiring additional nursing staff. 

What you can do about it

One of the most important things you can do to ensure you are ready to face 2025 nursing trends head on and have a future in the shifting nursing field is get more education. This could mean moving from LPN to RN, RN to BSN, or even jumping from LPN to Nurse Practitioner. It could also mean educating yourself on the issues nurses face and getting involved in a local or nationwide nursing organization to advocate for yourself and your nursing colleagues. 

Earning an RN in 2025

It is possible to earn your RN and more advanced degree while you continue to work in your current healthcare role and ensure you are ready for 2025 nursing trends. Achieve Test Prep can help you take the first step by testing out of nursing prerequisites to make real progress towards your goal. Whether you're just entering the nursing field or you need to advance your education in an LPN to RN Bridge program, LPN to BSN program, CNA to RN program, Paramedic to RN program, or many other online nursing bridge programs. Connect with one of our Education Advisors to learn how we can help you.