Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/13/2026 15:33
In Wayne County, Governor Shapiro and Health Secretary Dr. Bogen Launch New Nurse Shortage Assistance Program to Support Aspiring Nurses, Address Gaps in Pennsylvania's Workforce
October 13, 2026 - Honesdale, PA
In Wayne County, Governor Shapiro and Health Secretary Dr. Bogen Launch New Nurse Shortage Assistance Program to Support Aspiring Nurses, Address Gaps in Pennsylvania's Workforce
Pennsylvania hospitals have reported that an average of 15 percent of their licensed nursing positions are vacant, risking a shortage of 22,000 nurses by 2028.
The Shapiro Administration created the state-level Nurse Shortage Assistance Program to build a pipeline of trained nursing professionals to deliver high-quality care all across the Commonwealth.
Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen visited Wayne Memorial Hospital - part of the Wayne Memorial Health System (WMHS) - to officially launch the state-level Nurse Shortage Assistance Program (NSAP) to help boost retention, limit turnover, and maintain a skilled health care workforce.
Secured by the Governor in the 2026-27 budget, $5 million in loan repayment assistance funding will be distributed to NSAP recipients through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and servicer, Scholars Network. In the program's first year, up to 200 nursing students could receive up to $10,000 per year, building a pipeline of trained nursing professionals who deliver high-quality care all across the Commonwealth.
"By expanding education programs, providing tuition assistance, and connecting nursing students with hospitals, we can ensure there are enough skilled professionals in our communities to deliver high-quality patient care," said Governor Shapiro. "Investing in Pennsylvania's nursing students not only gives them peace of mind that they'll have a good job after college but it creates a pipeline of new, highly trained nurses for our communities to directly address the Commonwealth's nursing shortage. My Administration is committed to continuing support for this critical workforce and helping the nurses who care for Pennsylvanians."
Speakers:
- James Pettinato
- Governor Josh Shapiro
- Jamie Wagner
- Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen
- Chandra Roberts
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania published this content on October 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 13, 2026 at 21:33 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]