Think nursing school is just textbooks and test prep? Think again. In 2025, it’s immersive, tech-driven, and focused on real-world readiness. As healthcare evolves, nursing education is stepping up with innovative tools, bold strategies, and a renewed focus on what truly matters: preparing nurses to thrive in practice.

1. Hybrid/online learning

More nursing students today are non-traditional learners balancing work, family, and school. Hybrid and fully online nursing programs are gaining traction for their flexibility, convenience, and accessibility. They allow students to progress on their own time while still engaging with a rigorous, high-quality program.

2. Focus on nurse readiness

Passing the NCLEX is still a key milestone—but it’s no longer the only benchmark of success. While 93% of students pass the exam, only 9% report feeling fully prepared for clinical practice. This gap has sparked what many are calling the nurse readiness crisis.

To bridge this divide, nursing schools are emphasizing real-world preparation through immersive simulations, such as virtual reality, and shifting toward competency-based education to build clinical judgment and confidence from day one.

3. The rise of competency-based education

The National League of Nursing envisions a future where nursing education can close the gap between theory and practice. To do this, the NLN recommends competency-based education (CBE), where students develop practical skills and clinical judgment in a safe, controlled environment.

Some characteristics of CBE include focus on: 

• Outcomes vs. inputs
• Mastery vs. time-based learning
• Practical application vs. theoretical knowledge
• Individualized pacing vs. standardized timelines

This model gives learners the space to build skills and ensures they’re truly practice-ready.‍

4. Lack of educators and preceptors

While the nursing shortage dominates headlines, a less talked-about issue is the shortage of nurse educators and preceptors. In 2023 alone, U.S. nursing schools turned away over 65,000 qualified applicants due in part to a lack of faculty and clinical placements, according to the AACN.

Funding, burnout, and limited incentives are all contributing to this critical bottleneck. UbiSim recently explored these challenges in a webinar featuring insights from educators in the field. Check it out here.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping healthcare—and nursing education is no exception. From supporting clinical decision-making to automating administrative tasks, AI has the potential to enhance both learning and practice. As AI becomes more integrated into healthcare delivery, it’s essential that new nurses are equipped to work alongside it. Understanding its benefits, limitations, and ethical implications should be a core part of the nursing curriculum.

6. Virtual reality (VR)

VR is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s here, and it’s transforming how nurses learn. Platforms like UbiSim provide realistic, repeatable clinical scenarios that help learners build confidence and competence in a safe, immersive environment. When learners can practice until they get it right, they show up in clinical settings more prepared, more confident, and more centered on patient care.

7. Telehealth training

As telemedicine becomes more commonplace, nursing education is adapting. Students are now being trained in virtual bedside manner, remote assessment skills, and digital communication to meet patients where they are. Studies have shown that telehealth significantly improves patient access, satisfaction, and outcomes—especially in chronic disease management. Training nurses for this reality is a must.

8. Nurse specialization

Nursing roles continue to diversify, with growing demand for specialists in areas like informatics, mental health, geriatrics, and community health. Nursing education programs are offering more tailored pathways and electives to help students align their studies with future career goals.

9. Importance of cultural humility

Cultural competence remains a foundational skill in nursing, but educators are also emphasizing cultural humility—the lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and respectful, patient-centered care across all backgrounds.

This is more important than ever, as increasing diversity and persistent health disparities require nurses to engage with patients through a lens of empathy, awareness, and equity.

10. Community-based healthcare

Community-based nursing education is on the rise, shifting the focus from hospital-centric models to preventive and population health. Students are learning how to support underserved communities, manage chronic conditions, and promote health equity through outreach, education, and advocacy.

Final Thoughts

As we look at the trends shaping nursing education in 2025, one thing is clear: the profession is undergoing a transformation. Today’s nursing students are stepping into a complex, tech-enabled, patient-centered world—and their education must prepare them for it.

How is your institution evolving in 2025?