WASHINGTON, D.C. - Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have granted $30 million to attract more people into the field of nursing.
More than $22 million will be distributed to colleges, universities and other organizations, while $8 million will be spent to repay loans of healthcare workers willing to work two years in a public or nonprofit health facility.
Charles H. Roadman II, MD, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) says the staffing shortage directly impacts patient care.
"Increasing the number of front line caregivers will have a direct impact on the quality of care provided to the nation's elderly and disabled - and this should be a top public policy objective," he says. "The HHS grant designed to increases the number of qualified nurses and the quality of nursing services across the country is timely and necessary. As these grants are generally targeted toward increasing the numbers of nurses with advanced degrees, we urge Secretary Thompson to ensure the dire shortage of front line caregivers in the long term care sector receives specific attention."
According to Roadman, there are more than 100,000 licensed nurse and certified nurse aide jobs currently unfilled in nursing homes nationally.
I Was There: An Infection Preventionist on the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 30th 2025Deep feelings run strong about the COVID-19 pandemic, and some beautiful art has come out of those emotions. Infection Control Today is proud to share this poem by Carmen Duke, MPH, CIC, in response to a recent article by Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC.
From the Derby to the Decontam Room: Leadership Lessons for Sterile Processing
April 27th 2025Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, is the SVP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Surgical Solutions in Overland, Kansas. This SPD leader reframes preparation, unpredictability, and teamwork by comparing surgical services to the Kentucky Derby to reenergize sterile processing professionals and inspire systemic change.
Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance Coaching
April 25th 2025Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.