This month, we featured a new program for Healthcare Purchasing News: 40 under 40. The program celebrates individuals under 40 years of age who are making waves in the healthcare industry under HPN’s many verticals.
Right now, in our industry, we’re seeing a shortage of healthcare professionals. For example, a 2021 Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that nearly 30% of healthcare workers were considering leaving their profession, and nearly 60% reported impacts to their mental health stemming from their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, according to the American Hospital Association, hospital employment decreased by nearly 94,000 from February 2020, including a drop of over 8,000 between August 2021 and September 2021 alone.
These numbers are certainly alarming, yet all hope is not lost. I’ve noticed a growing trend of hospitals and health systems targeting high school students about careers in healthcare.
Recently, Cleveland-based University Hospitals (UH) announced it is expanding the UH Future Nurse Academy to three locations. The program, which was introduced last year, is a two-week paid summer program designed to expose high school students to a career in nursing.
UH has partnered with local colleges to have an Academy on the east and west sides of the city and a central location to make it more accessible for students.
“The UH Future Nurse Academy sets students up for success by connecting them with UH clinicians and partners and providing an array of opportunities for hands-on learning. The Academy builds on students’ existing skills to help them navigate healthcare career paths following high school graduation,” said Michelle Hereford, MSHA, RN, FACHE, system chief nurse executive and Ethel Morikis Endowed Chair in Nursing Leadership.
My last two editorials celebrated sterile processing professionals and environmental services professionals, which are just two of the departments that HPN covers in its daily news coverage, magazine features, online stories, and now, our podcast, Healthcare Hodgepodge. The HPN team is committed to giving a voice to not only these departments, but also supply chain, infection prevention, surgical and critical care, healthcare IT, and more. Be sure to check out the featured winners in print and online and reach out to us if you have a story to tell (even if you’re over 40!) so HPN can continue to highlight those who are making a difference.
Janette Wider | Editor-in-Chief
Janette Wider is Editor-in-Chief for Healthcare Purchasing News.
