News
A New Kind of Service: Nursing on the Rise
February 09, 2026
Northwood Technical College’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program is climbing once again. The need for qualified nurses has never been higher.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted higher education, enrollments in Northwood Tech’s nursing program fell sharply, dropping by nearly 36% by 2022–2023. Since then, interest has steadily grown and enrollments have rebounded by more than 23%.
“Like many programs nationwide, we saw fewer applicants during the pandemic,” said Mari Jo Ulrich, dean of health sciences at Northwood Tech. “But healthcare didn’t slow down, and the demand for skilled nurses only intensified.”
Workforce Need Outpaces Supply
State and national data show a growing gap between job openings and available graduates.
In 2019, Wisconsin averaged 57,609 nursing jobs. Between 2017 and 2019, the 5.6 percent growth rate outpaced the national average of 1.3 percent.
While the growth slowed slightly, Wisconsin still added 3.8 percent more jobs from 2020 to 2023.
The state now averages 67,750 nursing jobs, nearly and leads all industry sectors in job postings with more than 4,500 per month. There is no question that nursing is on the rise.
Northwood Tech alum George Gilmore stands in the emergency department at Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.
A Veteran’s Path to Purpose
For George, a Northwood Tech nursing alumnus and U.S. Army veteran, the program offered more than a new career; it offered direction.
“I’m a non-traditional student who came to nursing after a diverse and demanding path,” he said. “I served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer from 2003 to 2007, stationed in South Korea near the DMZ, then at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later deployed to Iraq, where I supported convoy operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I got out shortly after getting back stateside.”
After the military, George managed national call centers, worked for a nonprofit shelter, and served as a manager for a major retail chain throughout central and northern Wisconsin while completing a business degree.
“I wanted a future-proof career,” he said. “I’d hit the ceiling where I was, and there was limited room to grow. Nursing offered purpose, stability, and challenge. Northwood Tech stood out for its strong reputation, veteran support, affordable tuition, and its location near Duluth, one of the top states for nursing pay adjusted for cost of living.”
Northwood Tech alum George Gilmore is pictured during his time in the U.S. Army.
George said the hands-on approach helped him thrive. “From day one, Northwood Tech focused on real skills that matter in the field. Clinicals pushed me to apply what I learned in high-pressure environments, and the instructors treated me like a future colleague, not just a student.”
Resilience Meets Real-World Need
Balancing adult responsibilities and full-time study was not easy. “Time and balance were the biggest challenges,” he said. “Nursing school is intense, but the people, instructors, classmates, and support staff made the difference. They understood that life outside of school doesn’t pause.”
Now working as an emergency department nurse at Aspirus St. Luke’s in Duluth, Minnesota, George said the journey paid off.
“This education was a reset button for my life,” he said. “It gave me a path into a stable, purpose-driven career where I can make a real impact.”
As Northwood Tech continues to rebuild enrollment, George’s story reflects the college’s mission: preparing students to meet critical workforce needs, one nurse at a time.
