The NEXUS Nursing Framework: Building the Workforce our Communities Deserve

The challenges facing the nursing workforce begin long before a student applies to nursing school. They reflect deeper breakdowns in the systems, policies, and infrastructure that shape nursing education and workforce development.In The NEXUS Nursing Framework™, nurse leader and policy strategist Dr. Sherri Johnson offers a systems-level approach to understanding—and addressing—the nursing workforce crisis. Rather than framing the issue as a simple shortage, the book examines how fragmented education pathways, misaligned workforce policy, and inequitable access points prevent students from moving seamlessly from education into practice.Blending lived experience with policy analysis, The NEXUS Nursing Framework™ traces the student journey from early education through nursing practice, identifying critical policy gaps across K–12 education, workforce development, and higher education. The framework connects federal and state levers—including Perkins V, WIOA, and Title VIII—to provide a practical roadmap for alignment.Designed for policymakers, educators, healthcare leaders, workforce professionals, and advocates, this book moves beyond diagnosis to offer actionable strategies for building a more resilient, equitable nursing workforce.This is not a call for more nurses—it is a call for better systems. Read more