Maryland Takes Steps To Get More Nurses On The Job

Maryland is hoping to get more nurses working to mitigate staffing shortages.

Health Secretary Dennis Schrader said Thursday that he has issued a notice that states that registered nurses or licensed practical nurses with an active license in another state or jurisdiction may provide nursing care in Maryland.
The leaders of nursing training and education programs have been requested to again allow the earliest graduation possible for qualified nursing students.

To read the notice, please CLICK HERE

To read the Maryland Higher Education Commission letter, please CLICK HERE

Also, hospitals are encouraged to recruit nurses from other states and to utilize certified nursing assistants and physician assistant students.

“This week, Maryland reported the nation’s lowest COVID-19 case rate, and we continue to withstand the Delta variant surge better than just about any other state,” Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said. “While our hospitalizations remain well below all of our pandemic surge capacity triggers, we are taking proactive steps to maximize the ability of our hospitals to increase their nursing workforce.”

Also, from the Governor’s office:

Secretary Schrader has sent a letter to the state’s hospital and nursing home leaders outlining additional flexibilities they may use:

• Nursing Students. State health officials encourage all hospital leaders to work with their local nursing programs to ensure that hospitals can use student nurses to the maximum extent feasible. (Section 8-301(c)(1) of the Health Occupations Article)
  
• Nurse Licensure Compact. State health officials encourage all hospital leaders to actively recruit nursing staff from Nurse Licensure Compact states to increase the supply of nursing personnel. The compact allows nurses to have one license but the ability to practice in multiple states.
  
• Certified Nursing Assistants. Nursing students may perform the tasks of Certified Nursing Assistants with supervision. (Section 8-6A-02(b)(3) of the Health Occupations Article)
  
• Physician Assistants. Physician assistant students may practice without a license. (Section 15-301(f)(1) of the Health Occupations Article)
• Unlicensed Individuals. A physician may delegate to unlicensed individual aspects of care that are necessary for emergency COVID-19 treatment as determined by their clinical judgment. (Section 14-306(a) of the Health Occupations Article)