Kentucky needs nurses now, let’s recommit to that effort this Nurses Month

KCTCS honors faculty, staff and students during Nurses Month and dedicates resources to educate more Kentucky nurses  

In honor of Nurses Month, KCTCS not only thanks its dedicated nursing faculty and staff who bring clinical expertise and meaningful instruction to future care providers, but also recognizes the significant impact of this healthcare sector on the state.

“Every May, we join together to extend our appreciation to all nurses,” said Dr. Ryan Quarles, KCTCS president.

According to the Kentucky Hospital Association, there is a current shortfall of 5,391 registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Kentucky. One in three RN positions in medical/surgical units are vacant. By 2030, more than one third of all psychiatric nurses and a quarter of all operating room nurses will have retired. There is a current 22% turnover rate for RNs.

Kentucky has less than 10 nurses for every 1,000 residents, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Moreover, the 2020-2022 University of Louisville School of Medicine Trover Campus Biennial Report found that 102 Kentucky counties, either entirely or partially, are considered health professional shortage areas – the vast majority located in rural communities.

To expand the nursing pipeline, KCTCS, along with several public and private entities, are working together to find solutions. For example, Anthem Medicaid has established the Rural Medicine Scholarship program, investing $800,000 (and counting) to ensure Kentuckians – no matter their zip code – have access to high quality care by requiring scholarship recipients to live and serve in the communities they are proud to call home. Hazard Community and Technical College is a partner in the Rural Medicine Scholarship program as are Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, the University of Louisville School of Medicine Trover Campus in Madisonville and Western Kentucky University.

KCTCS is doing its part, too. Systemwide, KCTCS educates more nurses than any other post-secondary institution in the commonwealth. In fact, last year KCTCS awarded 88% of Kentucky's associate degrees in nursing and allied health.

To take it a step further, KCTCS is using funds from the Healthcare Workforce Grant to send 24 of our nursing faculty back to school to obtain their master’s degrees. We are also working with the University of Louisville on an HRSA grant that financially supports LPNs to further their education through our LPN to RN Bridge and then through UofL’s RN to BSN program.

As reflected in the 2022-2023 KCTCS Workforce and Economic Development Report, last year KCTCS Workforce Solutions TRAINS program invested nearly $700,000 in healthcare education and training and provided 76 customized solutions for organizations dedicated to the care of residents of the commonwealth. Looking to the future, KCTCS will continue to seek every opportunity to encourage students to pursue healthcare careers such as nursing and will provide employers with the qualified candidates they need to improve the health and quality of life for all Kentuckians.