DURHAM, N.C. -- A nursing shortage was already on the horizon before the coronavirus outbreak. Now, there is an even greater need. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 200,000 additional RN’s will be needed each year through 2020 to 2026 to fill the need and replace nurses who are retiring. 

Currently, nursing students aren’t looking to pandemics of the past. They are learning in real time.

“I do think Covid-19 is going to change the future of nursing education and practice everywhere because we are learning history while we are experiencing it,” said Dr. Yolanda VanRiel, interim chair of North Carolina Central University Department of Nursing.

Classes at NCCU have moved online, but virtual labs mean students are still hands-on. 

"Our facility demonstrates different skills and students can perform return demonstrations and receive realtime feedback from our faculty.”

The program has always touched on how to administer aid during a crisis, but now students understand it in a tangible way.

“I understand this pandemic is indifferent to age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and as such, we are preparing nursing students to care for everyone,”Dr. VanRiel said.

She believes this tough time will actually inspire others who have an interest in the medical field to now become a nurse in order to make an impact. 

“There is a huge demand for nurses in our healthcare system and to add to that, you think about how nurses are part of the aging population and our nursing programs will need to keep up with the demand for nurses in our healthcare system,” Dr. VanRiel said.