Staffing shortages are already top of mind for hospital and health system leaders. Now, a nursing degree scheme adds a new layer to the issue, Dani Bowie, DNP, RN, who has expertise related to staffing models, told Becker’s.
Dr. Bowie, vice president of clinical strategy and transformation for San Francisco-based healthcare labor marketplace company Trusted Health, said situations like what has unfolded in Florida require health systems to collaborate with state licensing boards when reviewing their existing nursing staff to ensure education degrees are valid and not associated with a fraudulent school.
The scheme comes amid healthcare workforce shortages across the U.S., which are a key focus for hospital and health system leaders.
“Top of mind for many health systems is the current state of the workforce, and how to keep the workforce healthy, meaning [addressing] burnout and well-being and ensuring that the workforce stays engaged and wants to continue to work,” said Dr. Bowie, who also previously served as system director of clinical resource management for Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health. “And then there’s a lot of literature out there in regards to what the workforce will look like in the future.”
She specifically referenced estimates and analysis from a McKinsey report published May 11, 2022, which projected a deficit of 200,000 to 450,000 registered nurses available for direct patient care by 2025.