> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Fact brief: Is South Dakota projected to have one of the worst nursing shortages by 2030?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-south-dakota-nursing-shortage/
- Published: 2025-09-02T11:00:07.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-02T11:00:07.000Z
- Description: A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
- Author: Michael Klinski
- Tags: Fact briefs

## Yes.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2025/01/WhiteFACT-BRIEF--500-x-200-px--2-1-1.png)

South Dakota is one of seven states that is expected to have a shortage of nurses by 2030.

According to a report released by RegisteredNursing.org using Bureau of Health Workforce data, South Dakota will be 1,900 nurses short of demand by the end of the decade, 14% less than what is needed. That's projected to be the third worst in the nation, behind Alaska (22.7%) and South Carolina (-16.6%).

The nursing shortage in South Dakota is exacerbated by the state’s rural areas because of the distance to health care facilities as well as economic challenges, among other factors. 

WalletHub ranked South Dakota 45th in the nation in a list of “best and worst states for nurses.”

The website ranked states for salaries, quality and number of nursing schools, nurses per 1,000 residents and other categories related to workplace satisfaction. 

*This fact brief responds to conversations such as* [*this one.*](https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthDakota/comments/1n0htgm/anyone%5Fdo%5Frural%5Femt%5Fwork%5Faround%5Fthe%5Fchamberlain/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

### **Sources**

RegisteredNursing.org, [The states with the largest nursing shortages](https://www.registerednursing.org/articles/largest-nursing-shortages/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

South Dakota State University, [Addressing the rural nursing crisis](https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2025/06/addressing-rural-nursing-crisis?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

WalletHub, [Best and worst states for nurses](https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-nurses/4041?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

---

[South Dakota News Watch](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/) partners with [Gigafact](https://gigafact.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.

- [Read previous fact briefs](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/tag/fact-brief/).
- Read our verification standards and other [best practices policies](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/best-practices/).
- Submit a question for us to answer on the [South Dakota News Watch Tipline](https://gigafact.org/tipline/south-dakota-news-watch/?ref=sdnewswatch.org).
- Send questions or feedback to [factbrief@sdnewswatch.org](mailto:factbrief@sdnewswatch.org).

[Share your thoughts on this story](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdTmGFf24Uhwiwd%5FndSxHkv6oBGSAy1LxF9BbwRbhBK5KflA/viewform?usp=sf%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

*This story was produced by *South Dakota News Watch*, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at* [*sdnewswatch.org*](http://sdnewswatch.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) *and* [*sign up for an email*](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/email/) *to get stories when they're published. *Contact Michael Klinski* at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.*