Two long-term care associations praised CMS’ new nurse recruitment initiative, but one cautioned that filling vacancies should not be the only goal.
On Oct. 23, CMS launched a $275 million recruitment and retention initiative to bring more nurses into nursing homes. In the Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative, nursing students and licensed nurses can qualify for up to $40,000 in student loan repayment, a $10,000 stipend or both in exchange for a three-year commitment to work in a rural nursing home. The program is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses nationwide.
“We appreciate CMS’s partnership in fostering a strong, stable long-term care workforce,” Clif Porter, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “Providers across the country stand ready to help connect qualified nurses with fulfilling careers in long-term care.”
Leaders at both groups said the initiative could introduce more nurses to the long-term care industry, especially in rural and underserved communities.
“Too often, nursing homes are overlooked as a career choice, despite the clinical complexity of residents and the critical role nurses play in managing chronic conditions, preventing complications, and improving quality of life,” Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing, said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “However, we must also recognize that nursing home nursing requires specialized knowledge and skills that extend beyond traditional nursing education. As these nurses enter long-term care, investing in their education and clinical competencies will be essential to ensuring they are prepared to meet the increasingly complex needs of residents.”
Ms. Stewart said the association also sees the initiative as an opportunity to elevate long-term care nursing as a professional specialty.
“The goal should be more than filling vacancies,” she said. “It should be building a highly skilled nursing workforce equipped to deliver quality care to older adults for years to come.”
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