Maryland Hospital Association decides on plan to combat nursing shortage

November 7, 2007

Hospital leaders from Maryland unveiled their plan to double the number of nurses in the state by 2016. If nothing is done to encourage enrollment of nursing students, the shortage of nurses could reach 10,000 by that year. If the Maryland Hospital Association's plan is implemented, it will begin to reverse the trend in 2009.

The plan to increase Maryland's number of nursing students will cost $34 million and includes: An increase in first-year nursing students by 1,800 people, an increase in faculty across the state by 360 professors, increased funding for nursing programs, as well as a more space and classrooms for the anticipated increase in students. Leaders of the development group say that although the investment in the first two years is substantial, the program will begin to pay for itself within the first three years. Currently, many hospitals are spending an extra $50 million a year hiring nurses from agencies.

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