Working Together, We Can Strengthen the Healthcare Workforce

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was an outpouring of support for our healthcare heroes across the nation. Restaurants and community members delivered food. Clapouts lifted our teams’ spirits. Nurses and physicians came out of retirement to fortify the frontlines.

Nearly three years later, the landscape is radically different. One in five U.S. healthcare workers has left the job. More than 30 percent of nurses in the U.S. have reported an increase in workplace violence in the last year, according to National Nurses United. And staffing shortages are one of the greatest challenges in healthcare today.

It is imperative for all stakeholders - providers, state and federal government and higher education - to collaborate to create a better work environment and cultivate a robust pipeline of healthcare professionals to meet the needs of all communities today and for future generations.

First, let’s immediately address the increase in violence against our healthcare team members in recent years. Hackensack Meridian Health is addressing this head on, with a workplace violence strategic plan, consisting of network and facility-level experts coming together to support team members across all areas of the network.

We are urging policymakers in our capitol to take action to enhance protections for those team members who are, despite our best efforts, victims of violence. Hackensack Meridian Health supports the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, which would, if enacted, provide criminal penalties similar to those in the federal statute that criminalizes the assault and intimidation of aircraft and airport team members. While this doesn’t address the root cause, it is a strong statement of support for our healthcare heroes. Critically, the bill would also provide grants to hospitals for programs to help reduce the incidence of violence in our care settings. These grants help to provide critical support for our team members, including training, coordinating with state and local law enforcement or purchases needed to create a safer environment.

Equally important, we need to accelerate and expand opportunities to retain and attract more healthcare professionals. We need to address shortages that are exacerbated by the aging population and pandemic fatigue. There are more than 175,000 openings for RNs each year through 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Providers across the nation are doing their part to retain staff. As New Jersey’s largest health network, we have enhanced salaries and benefits by $600 million since the start of the pandemic. We launched an enhanced employee assistance program to provide one-on-one support and created a $3 million fund to provide direct aid for team members.

It is imperative that we all invest in efforts to graduate more healthcare professionals. Hackensack Meridian Health has a partnership with Georgian Court University to accelerate the number of nursing graduates. More than 600 nurses have graduated from the program, which is now the fastest growing at the university. But we know even this isn’t enough. We recently created a $10 million scholarship fund to support future nurses and we call on all health systems to do their part to break down some of the financial barriers that prevent people from getting degrees.

While there are numerous assistance programs available for nurses from organizations throughout the nation, the only federal program that exists is the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. While these programs are helpful, they do not get to the heart of the issue, which is providing upfront financial assistance. Our new scholarship program provides this vital assistance. Not only will it increase the nursing workforce, we will also diversify our teams. With upfront assistance, more people will be able to enter the workforce with a BSN, resulting in better patient outcomes and improved quality of care.

Technology is also providing vital assistance to expand the workforce. Many health systems are turning to virtual nursing programs, including Hackensack Meridian Health. The pilot we are launching this year uses advanced technology to allow nurses to observe patients remotely, coordinate care planning and expedite discharge instructions, all in collaboration with their onsite colleagues. This is a major benefit for nurses at the bedside. To build the healthcare system of the future, we must work together to attract more professionals and invest more in the teams on the front lines. Our health care heroes are selfless and deserve our unwavering gratitude, respect and courtesy. We must continue to innovate ways to support them and build a more robust pipeline of professionals to serve patients today and for future generations.