PA Governor Proposes $5 Million Budget To 'Strengthen Nursing Workforce'

Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited Temple Women & Families, part of Temple University Health System (TUHS), on March 6, to discuss the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposal aimed at addressing the state’s nursing shortage and strengthening the healthcare workforce.

$5 Million Nurse Shortage Assistance Program

The proposal introduces a first-time state investment of $5 million to establish the Nurse Shortage Assistance Program. This initiative is modeled on Temple Health’s Nursing Scholars Program, which provides tuition support for students in exchange for a multi-year work commitment at participating hospitals.

The program is designed to:

• Build a pipeline of trained nursing professionals
• Improve retention and reduce turnover
• Ensure hospitals statewide have a skilled workforce

“Temple is already doing incredible work in this space,” Governor Shapiro said. “They’ve started an initiative that we want to emulate and build up all across Pennsylvania.”

Pennsylvania’s Nursing Shortage by the Numbers

A Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) survey found that an average of 14% of nursing positions statewide are unfilled, leading to increased workloads and longer shifts. The situation is expected to worsen, with projections showing a shortage of 20,000 nurses by 2026.

“Hospitals win, because they get a guaranteed workforce of trained nurses that they can rely on,” Shapiro said. “And nursing students win, because they get their costs offset for their education and have a path to success in a field they love.”

Temple Health’s Nurse Scholar Program: A Model for the Commonwealth

Temple Health’s Nurse Scholar Program, launched in August 2024, serves as a successful model for the Governor’s proposal. The program provides students with up to $40,000 in tuition support for a two-to-three-year work commitment at Temple Health post-licensure.

“This program has truly been life-changing,” said Maura Cabry, a senior nursing student who will begin working at Temple Health this summer. “Knowing that I have a position guaranteed at Temple and financial support has completely transformed my career and my life.”

Since its launch, Temple’s program has received nearly 200 applications from 18 partner schools and has already filled 50% of its first-year quota.

“I want more Mauras across Pennsylvania,” Governor Shapiro said. “We’re investing $5 million in my budget to build on the success of what Temple has done here and to create strong pipelines like this across Pennsylvania.”

Additional Health Care Workforce Investments

Governor Shapiro’s proposal builds on prior efforts to strengthen the healthcare workforce:

• $2 million for nursing apprenticeships (2024-25 budget)
• Nurse Licensure Compact implementation, allowing nurses from 40 states to practice in Pennsylvania
• $22 million for substance use disorder (SUD) workforce, supporting 400 professionals through student loan repayment

New investments in the 2025-26 budget proposal include:

• $5 million to expand the Primary Care Loan Repayment Program for physicians, dentists, and psychologists
• $10 million for behavioral health loan repayment programs to address mental health provider shortages
• $5 million for rural nursing education and recruitment
• Legislation granting full practice authority to nurse practitioners
• Enhanced postpartum depression screening and intervention efforts

What’s Next?

Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal prioritizes workforce development to support healthcare access across Pennsylvania.

“The nursing shortage isn’t just a hospital issue—it affects every working family,” said Senator Tartaglione. “I’m grateful for the Governor’s leadership in addressing this crisis with real solutions.”

As Pennsylvania faces a growing demand for healthcare professionals, these strategic investments aim to ensure a sustainable, well-trained nursing workforce for years to come.

🤔 Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.