On November 16, KHA held a press conference to release the latest data on the hospital workforce in Kentucky. KHA President and CEO Nancy Galvagni shared the results of the 2023 KHA Workforce Survey indicate there were nearly 13,000 job vacancies in hospitals across Kentucky at the end of 2022. Of those 13,000 open jobs, nearly 5,000 were openings for registered nurses (RN) openings and there were another 300 licensed practical nurse (LPN) vacancies. She also discussed that the projections from a new Global Data study, commissioned by KHA in conjunction with the Kentucky Board of Nursing, show there will be a shortfall of 6,000 RNs by 2035, essentially the same as today.
Special guests Senator Steve Meredith; Leslie Sizemore with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education; Kelly Jenkins with the Kentucky Board of Nursing; Ashli Watts from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; and Ryan Quarles from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System also spoke regarding the partnerships KHA has convened to address the workforce shortage.
