Coinciding with National Nurses Day, the Baltimore Ravens and The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation announced Tuesday a $20 million investment for Baltimore-area hospitals to grow the nursing workforce and provide support for nurses.
Four $5 million grants will aid MedStar Health, The University of Maryland Medical System, Johns Hopkins Health System and Mercy Medical Center in developing innovative approaches for the recruitment, training and retention of nurses, with the goal of curbing a severe projected nursing shortfall.
"The Baltimore region is fortunate to have world-class medical institutions," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti stated. "Nurses are the unsung heroes of our healthcare system, and investing in them ensures we have skilled, dependable professionals who keep it running smoothly."
There is currently a national nursing shortage, and by 2036, Maryland is expected to have a 20% shortage, which equates to 14,700 nurses. Additionally, The Maryland Hospital Association's Healthcare Workforce Report found that one in every four hospital nursing positions was vacant due to high staff turnover, shifting care delivery models and an insufficient talent pipeline.
Nurses provide a foundation for patient care through direct interaction and expertise, often acting as the primary point of contact for patients and families throughout their treatment journey. Without nurses, the entire healthcare ecosystem would falter. This reality reinforces the need to support the critical roles of nurses not just in hospitals, but in community clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and public schools.
To address the nursing shortage, a multifaceted approach – focusing on both recruitment and retention – is required. Therefore, these grants will provide hospitals with flexibility to use funds that test and support innovative initiatives to train, hire and retain nurses.
Prospective efforts could include:
- Expanding nursing education programs and clinical placements
- Providing financial assistance to aspiring nurses through scholarships/loan repayment programs
- Testing flexible scheduling options and developing career advancement opportunities
- Establishing mentorship programs, where experienced nurses can guide and support new nurses to improve their transition into practice and strengthen retention rates
- Increasing salaries and benefits
- Launching targeted recruitment campaigns to attract nurses
- Partnering with other organizations to develop creative solutions to address gaps in the nursing workforce
Organizational Statements
Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE, President & CEO, MedStar Health:
"Nurses are at the heart of health care. Their knowledge, compassion and critical thinking are a constant for patients during their most vulnerable moments. We are deeply honored and profoundly grateful to The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation for this extraordinary $5 million gift in support of nursing. This generous donation illuminates the critical role of nurses and ensures a continued commitment to educate, empower and support our nurses today, tomorrow and for generations to come. It is a transformational moment for our organization – and every patient who benefits from their compassionate care."
LynnMarie Verzino, DNP, Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, MedStar Health:
"We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift. This is an investment in our nurses, those who comfort our patients, mentor colleagues and serve every day with unwavering expertise and compassion. This moment affirms what we already know: Nursing changes lives. And now, thanks to the generosity of The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation, we have an unprecedented opportunity to continue supporting those at the heart of our mission."
David N. Maine, M.D., President & CEO of Mercy Health Services:
"We are deeply grateful to The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation and the Baltimore Ravens for this transformative grant supporting Mercy's nursing education efforts. As a community teaching hospital, Mercy is proud to partner with more than a dozen nursing programs across Maryland. This remarkably generous grant affirms the vital role of nursing in our healthcare ministry and will enable us to strengthen clinical training and prepare future nursing leaders to meet the needs of our Baltimore community."
Mohan Suntha, M.D., MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of UMMS:
"We are deeply appreciative of the gift from the Bisciotti Foundation and the Baltimore Ravens to enhance and support nursing initiatives across the University of Maryland Medical System. Through clinical expertise and compassionate presence at the bedside, UMMS nurses are shaping the future of healthcare with every patient interaction. They are not only healing individuals; they are improving lives, strengthening families and building healthier communities across our state."
Kevin W. Sowers, MSN, RN, FAAN, President of Johns Hopkins Health System:
"This grant will allow our nursing leadership the extraordinary opportunity to expand our novel virtual nursing platform to improve safety for inpatient clinical care, as well as fundamentally transform how we support new nurses during their transition into practice. We will develop our virtual nursing into a real-time mentorship and clinical support platform, by which experienced nurses can guide and reassure newly licensed colleagues at the bedside. By integrating our people, processes, and technology in new ways, we aim to build a scalable model that enhances patient care, restores joy in nursing, and strengthens our nursing workforce in Maryland and beyond."
