<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4LUCQZ_1B9UCIz300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4LUCQZ_1B9UCIz300" width="1280" height="871" >RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As National Nurses Week begins, healthcare leaders are drawing attention to a significant nursing shortage impacting hospitals across Virginia and the nation.According to a study from George Mason University, the Commonwealth is in need of more than 17,000 registered nurses to meet workforce demands.“The fact of the matter is that there just aren’t enough of us, and there haven’t been for a very long time,” said Mark Tanner, associate dean for academic affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Nursing.He said there are a number of factors contributing to the shortage.“We have a lot of nurses who are hitting retirement age,” Tanner said. “We’re still suffering the aftereffects of the pandemic. A lot of nurses and healthcare providers really got burned out, and some left the profession altogether.”Tanner said he’s also noticed that nurses aren’t staying in their roles for an extended period of time, which was once the norm.Healthcare leaders said the shortage also impacts both staffing levels and patient care.“Nurses are having to take more patients, which means less time with each patient, which increases the likelihood that they could potentially miss something,” Tanner said. “[If] you have more patients, you’re not spending as much time, and you’re not able to be as attentive,” To help address the issue, VCU said it has expanded enrollment opportunities for nursing students.“We were having to turn away 300-plus applicants that were qualified that we just couldn’t fit into our program for that year,” Tanner said. “So we have actually added a second cohort for our traditional students.”The school is also launching a new fast-track program this fall for students looking to switch careers and earn a master’s degree in nursing.According to VCU, more than 90% of its nursing graduates remain in Virginia, contributing to the state’s healthcare workforce.“If we continue on our current trajectory, I’m hopeful that we will be able to expand even more to help meet the demand that’s out there for qualified nurses,” Tanner said.VCU leaders said the state’s aging population is expected to increase the demand for nurses in the coming years, making expanded training programs increasingly important to meeting healthcare needs across the commonwealth.</div></body>

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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As National Nurses Week begins, healthcare leaders are drawing attention to a significant nursing shortage impacting hospitals across Virginia and the nation. According to a study from George Mason University, the Commonwealth is in need of more than 17,000 registered nurses to meet workforce demands.

VCU expands nursing programs as Virginia faces statewide shortage

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