Podcast Summary: Building a Sustainable Nursing Pipeline Through Education and Innovation
Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Host: Lucas Voss
Guest: Steve Tatum, VP of Strategic Healthcare Solutions, Orbis Education
Date: December 5, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the ongoing nursing shortage and explores innovative strategies to create a sustainable pipeline of nurses in the U.S. healthcare system. Steve Tatum shares insights on the critical role of partnerships between universities and healthcare organizations, the importance of flexibility and technology in nursing education, and approaches to support both students and health systems in meeting workforce needs.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Scope of the Nursing Shortage
[00:26–01:03]
- Steve Tatum outlines his background in macroeconomics and workforce development, emphasizing that nursing shortages have been a persistent, worsening challenge since the 1980s.
- He shares how his experience led to a focus on solving drastic nurse shortages at Orbis Education and Grand Canyon Education.
Notable Quote:
"Skilled healthcare workers are already a shortage. They've always been a shortage that has ebbed and flowed since the 80s... It wasn't getting better, it was getting far worse."
— Steve Tatum [00:39]
2. The Financial and Operational Impact of Shortages
[01:03–01:41]
- Lucas cites data: Average time to recruit an RN is 83 days, and each 1% RN turnover changes hospital costs by roughly $280k.
- The discussion frames the urgency of proactive, collaborative approaches between academia and healthcare systems.
3. Partnership Models to Build a Robust Pipeline
[01:41–02:39]
- Steve shares how Grand Canyon Education (GCE) partners with 20 institutions across 50 locations to scale programs and train workforce-ready nurses.
- Students are recruited and integrated into health systems even before graduation, benefiting both organizations and students with ongoing engagement, recruiting, and reduced reliance on agencies.
Notable Quote:
"These Future nurses... they're able to recruit them, they're able to inculturate and it allows them to be an active participant in the recruiting, retention and the continuing education."
— Steve Tatum [02:14]
4. Breaking Down Education Barriers and Expanding Access
[02:39–05:46]
- Nursing education’s complexity: Not infinitely scalable due to mandated clinical ratios and a shortage of qualified faculty.
- Orbis Education addresses these challenges by focusing on accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs and hybrid modalities to support non-traditional students.
- Their model helps healthcare organizations develop their existing workforce into nurse educators, often providing scholarships and regulatory waivers where appropriate.
Notable Quote:
"What we really specialize in is an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program... In a lot of cases this student is non traditional. So we're granting an access point to a student that otherwise would not."
— Steve Tatum [04:02]
Notable Quote:
"We provide opportunities for a BSN baccalaureate prepared nurse to become an MSN on scholarship, while where the regulatory allows getting a waiver to teach in the program. So... we're working with the healthcare organization to develop their own nurses into the future education force while we're actually fixing their bedside problem."
— Steve Tatum [05:16]
5. Scalability, Student Experience, and Outcomes
[06:01–09:55]
- The importance of designing infrastructure that supports rapid, scalable student growth without compromising student success or educational quality.
- Heavy investment in student success coaching, tutoring, and advanced data analytics for early intervention with struggling students.
- Flexibility is critical: Programs are designed for nontraditional students (career changers, working adults, military veterans, advanced transfer students) who require adaptable, hybrid education models.
Notable Quote:
"Most health care organizations understand there aren't enough nurses and they understand that trying to recruit from the competitor down the street is just taking from a different piece of the pie, not necessarily increasing the size of the pie."
— Steve Tatum [08:26]
Notable Quote:
"If you have the requisite classes and coursework to be a competitive student, we will build the capacity for you."
— Steve Tatum [09:34]
6. The Evolving Role of Technology in Nursing Education
[09:55–11:34]
- Technological advancements (AR, VR, XR, simulation) are accelerating and reshaping both nursing practice and education.
- GCE invests in proprietary technology and partners with tech vendors to provide immersive, simulated clinical experiences, helping prepare students for the increasing simulation focus of the NCLEX.
- Careful assessment of how tech adoption impacts downstream workforce development and organizational talent strategies.
Notable Quote:
"Technology is everywhere and it's always driving the change in business and education... We do a lot of AR xr, so augmented reality, general virtual reality as a whole."
— Steve Tatum [10:31]
Memorable Moments
- Data-driven urgency: Lucas’ mention of the 83-day RN recruitment cycle and massive cost implications caught the tone for why this topic is urgent for healthcare executives.
[01:03] - Holistic partnerships: The show's focus on partnerships that extend beyond student placement to joint innovation in continuing education and educator pipeline building stood out as a practical solution.
[01:41–05:46] - Flexibility for non-traditional students: Steve’s depiction of the “non-traditional” student—career changers, veterans, advanced transfer students—highlighted a key population that often gets overlooked by traditional pathways.
[07:37–09:55] - Technology as a force multiplier: The candid assessment of technology’s rapid impact on education and workforce strategy, including immersive AR/VR training, positioned tech as essential rather than supplementary.
[09:55–11:34]
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
-
"Skilled healthcare workers are already a shortage... It wasn't getting better, it was getting far worse."
— Steve Tatum [00:39] -
"These Future nurses... they're able to recruit them, they're able to inculturate and it allows them to be an active participant in the recruiting, retention and the continuing education."
— Steve Tatum [02:14] -
"We provide opportunities for a BSN baccalaureate prepared nurse to become an MSN on scholarship... we're working with the healthcare organization to develop their own nurses into the future education force while we're actually fixing their bedside problem."
— Steve Tatum [05:16] -
"Most health care organizations understand there aren't enough nurses and they understand that trying to recruit from the competitor down the street is just taking from a different piece of the pie, not necessarily increasing the size of the pie."
— Steve Tatum [08:26] -
"Technology is everywhere and it's always driving the change in business and education... We do a lot of AR xr, so augmented reality, general virtual reality as a whole."
— Steve Tatum [10:31]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:26] Steve Tatum’s background and the origins of focus on healthcare workforce shortages
- [01:03] Financial impact and urgency of nurse recruitment challenges
- [01:41] Role of partnership models and workforce development
- [02:39] Overcoming capacity barriers in nursing education
- [04:22] Accelerated and hybrid nursing programs for non-traditional students
- [06:40] Designing for student experience, flexibility, and support
- [09:55] The transformative power of technology in education and workforce planning
Tone & Style
The conversation is candid, focused, and solution-oriented, reflecting the forward-thinking yet pragmatic approach of healthcare and education leaders tackling a critical workforce challenge.
This summary provides a comprehensive overview for listeners seeking actionable insights on building and sustaining a resilient nursing workforce through innovative partnerships, flexible programming, and technology adoption.