A nursing shortage in Wayne County and across the U.S., fueled by burnout, aging populations, and staffing issues, has led to reduced hospital bed availability and rising healthcare costs.
Rochester Regional Health is shifting strategies to reduce reliance on costly agency nurses, who can earn up to $1,500 per shift.
RRH is prioritizing permanent hires by limiting new contracts for nurses within 75 miles of hospitals like Newark-Wayne and offering them full-time roles instead.
Temporary reductions in bed availability are in effect to ensure safe staffing, with ongoing recruitment and retention efforts aimed at stabilizing services. The policy reflects a broader push to address systemic staffing challenges since the pandemic.
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