Despite soaring demand for registered nurses driven by retirements and burnout, many U.S. nursing programs cannot keep pace with applicant volumes. Key bottlenecks include shortages of qualified faculty and limited clinical placement opportunities at hospitals and health facilities. California nursing schools have experienced acute challenges, triggering audits and increased funding efforts. Some institutions explore simulation technologies to augment practical training, while tensions grow between public and private schools competing for resources. These capacity constraints threaten to slow workforce growth amid critical healthcare needs.