Maryland Needs a Proven Tool to Confront Nursing Shortages

The two-year COVID-19 siege exacerbated health care workforce challenges in Maryland and across the country. Hospital and health care workers are leaving the industry in droves. We face a staggering health care workforce crisis. The issue is particularly dire related to nurses. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants make up 39% of the hospital workforce, according to a Maryland Hospital Association survey conducted this month. And hospital nurse vacancies jumped 50% in five months beginning last August. Shortages are also felt in private physician offices, nursing homes and other health care settings.