© 2024 WYPR
WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Maryland nursing shortage still critical

Registered nurse Sandra Younan adjusts an intravenous line for a patient at the emergency room of Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Younan spent the last year juggling long hours as she watched many patients struggle with the coronavirus and some die. Then there were the patients who claimed the virus was fake or coughed in her face, ignoring mask rules. One man stormed out of the hospital after a positive COVID-19 test, refusing to believe it was accurate. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes/AP
/
AP
Registered nurse Sandra Younan adjusts an intravenous line for a patient at the emergency room of Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Most of the country is short of nurses; Maryland is no exception. It needs thousands.

Charlotte Wood, president of the Maryland Nurses Association, describes the complicated causes of the shortfall and creative ways -- like forgiving student loans--to attract more to the field.

Then Kathleen Wisser, dean of Nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University, says its 15-month accelerated program draws people looking to pivot their profession:

“Sometimes their career wasn’t as fulfilling and enriching as they thought. Sometimes it’s a personal experience, either with COVID or a family member who has had some type of chronic or terminal illness.” 

And Stephania Long, a senior in the school’s traditional nursing course, reflects on gaining clinical experience during the pandemic.

Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.
Maureen Harvie is Senior Supervising Producer for On the Record. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and joined WYPR in 2014 as an intern for the newsroom. Whether coordinating live election night coverage, capturing the sounds of a roller derby scrimmage, interviewing veterans, or booking local authors, she is always on the lookout for the next story.