Over 22% of nursing positions in Kentucky hospitals are unfilled across the state according to a
report released today by the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) during a press conference in the state capitol rotunda. That’s over 5,000 registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) needed in Kentucky today. The shortage of healthcare professionals available across the Commonwealth, in addition to an unprecedented rise in staffing costs, could cause a crisis in the access Kentuckians have to the healthcare they need.
The data comes from the 2022 KHA Workforce Survey, an annual survey of hospitals throughout the state regarding the status of Kentucky’s hospital workforce. This year’s survey had the highest level of participation in recent history with 100% of acute care hospitals submitting data.