Florida hospitals have made significant progress in addressing nursing shortages, according to a new report from the Florida Hospital Association.
The total nursing vacancy rate has dropped to 7.8 percent this year, a notable improvement from the more than 20 percent vacancy rate seen just two years ago. Similarly, the turnover rate among nurses has been nearly cut in half, now at 17.6 percent.
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Despite these positive trends, Mary Mayhew, president of the Florida Hospital Association, emphasized the need for ongoing investment in education and training to meet the escalating demand for healthcare services in the rapidly growing state.
“The demand for health care in Florida is skyrocketing,” Mayhew stated. “We must have a workforce ready to respond and meet that demand.”
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The report also highlighted potential future challenges, projecting a potential shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses and 18,000 physicians by 2035.
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