A staggering 12% of positions in Kentucky hospitals remain unfilled, according to a new report by the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA). Alarmingly, nearly 4,000 of those positions are for registered nurses (RNs) alone. This critical shortage of health care professionals, coupled with soaring staffing costs, threatens to plunge the Commonwealth into a health care access crisis.
The data comes from the 2024 KHA Workforce Survey, with an impressive 94% participation rate of acute care hospitals, which paints a grim picture of the state’s hospital workforce. High vacancy rates and a 21% turnover rate, or the rate at which employees move in and out of a hospital, underscore the dire need for more health care professionals within the sector. These rates are not surprising given the current economic climate in America; however, in other industries, the numbers do not impact access to lifesaving care.
With 11% of hospital RNs nearing retirement, Kentucky faces an urgent need for solutions to avert a full-blown health care emergency. Luckily, KHA and Kentucky’s hospitals are working tirelessly to address this need.
“KHA and its member hospitals are committed to innovative initiatives and partnerships to attract more Kentuckians to the rewarding field of health care and making a true difference in their community,” said KHA President and Chief Executive Officer Nancy Galvagni. “KHA and its member hospitals are working with state officials, colleges, high schools, and community partners to expand programs and educate more professionals. We look forward to continuing our focus to ensure everyone in the Commonwealth retains access to the high quality of care our hospitals provide.”
About the Kentucky Hospital Association: KHA was established in 1929. The Association represents hospitals, related health care organizations and integrated health care systems dedicated to sustaining and improving the health status of the citizens of Kentucky. The Association is headquartered in Louisville.
