The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has published its 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, revealing that over 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022. The study, based on a survey of around 800,000 nurses, points to persistent labor shortages and systemic issues within the nursing profession, although there is a slight improvement in employment levels. High stress and burnout remain significant concerns, with nearly 40% of nurses expressing intentions to exit the profession by 2029. Key findings show that 9% of registered nurses and over 41% of licensed practical/vocational nurses plan to retire or leave their jobs in the next five years, citing similar reasons as in previous years. Median annual earnings for both groups have increased by 10-16%, likely due to inflation and heightened healthcare needs.

Nursing Workforce Faces Crisis as 138,000 Exit Amid Burnout Concerns NCSBN

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released guidance amid concerns of unauthorized access to a legacy Oracle cloud environment, primarily highlighting the dangers of compromised credentials. While the extent of the breach is not fully determined, the situation poses significant risks as exposed or reused credentials can lead to unauthorized access across systems. CISA warns that attackers can exploit harvested credentials for escalating privileges, accessing sensitive systems, and launching phishing campaigns. To counter these threats, organizations are advised to reset passwords for affected users, examine code for hardcoded credentials, monitor authentication logs for anomalies, and implement phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA). CISA also encourages organizations to refer to their cybersecurity resources for further best practices.

CISA Warns of Credential Compromise Risks in Oracle Cloud Environment CISA

A study published in PLOS One by Northwestern Medicine highlights the potential of using electronic health record (EHR) data to identify individuals at risk of homelessness by tracking changes in their residential addresses. The research, led by Abel Kho, MD, analyzed data from about one million patients and found that those with a history of homelessness experienced significantly more address changes compared to those without. The increasing homelessness rates in the U.S. underscore the need for healthcare institutions to leverage EHR data effectively to address housing instability, which can adversely affect health outcomes and incur higher healthcare costs.

EHR Data Reveals Key Insights for Identifying Homelessness Risk Feinberg School of Medicine

Rural hospitals encounter significant obstacles in establishing residency programs, primarily due to limited financial and structural resources, leading to healthcare recruitment challenges in these areas. Only 2% of medical residency training occurs in rural settings, despite 20% of the U.S. population residing in these locations. To address this shortage, Sanford Health’s Bemidji Medical Center has launched a partnership with Hennepin Healthcare to create a training model that allows emergency medicine residents from Hennepin County Medical Center to gain experience in rural medicine. The program has successfully attracted interest from residents, with positive feedback highlighting the value of diverse learning experiences outside urban environments, and currently supports 12 residents each year.

Rural Hospitals Innovate Residency Programs to Combat Physician Shortages Becker's Hospital Review