Connecticut launched a higher education initiative Wednesday to bridge the state’s shortage of nurses and behavioral health workers.
The three-year program is designed to support students pursuing degrees in nursing and social work.
“Connecticut’s nurses have worked tirelessly as they have battled this global pandemic,” said Terrence Cheng, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. “And our social workers and our counselors have done equal duty, helping thousands across our state navigate COVID's darkest days.”
Connecticut isn’t alone in trying to address the shortage of health care providers — the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a looming shortage of thousands of primary care physicians in the next decade.
Massive student debt and a health care system that pays more for specialized fields have pushed medical students away from primary care for years, Northeastern University professor Timothy Hoff told Connecticut Public’s Where We Live on Wednesday. But universities can also be part of the solution.
“There really needs to be a sea change in how medical schools perceive the whole practice and field of primary care and communicate that, and get young students excited about wanting to choose this field,” Hoff said. “Rather than sort of conveying the notion of, ‘Hey, be a specialist, don’t go into this field.’”
Connecticut’s $35 million initiative to address the health care worker shortage is expected to create more than 1,000 additional seats in nursing and behavioral health programs, provide tuition aid for students and support recruitment of more faculty to train them.
The plan is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and is part of the approved state budget.
