Gottheimer announces $3.8M in federal funds clawed back to address nursing shortage

Investment will be used for Holy Name’s Nursing School to train more nurses

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer on Thursday announced $3.8 million in new federal investment is being clawed back from Washington to Holy Name’s Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing to train dozens more nurses every year.

With a massive nursing shortage in New Jersey and nationwide, this new investment will help Holy Name grow their future nursing school class size to meet historic applicant levels.

Nationwide, about 100,000 registered nurses left the workplace because of the stresses of the pandemic, and another 800,000 said they intend to leave by 2027.

New Jersey ranks among the top 10 states with the most unfilled registered nurse positions — more than 13,000.  It also predicts a shortage of 11,400 nurses by 2030 — the third highest in the nation.

The $3.8 million federal investment clawed back for Holy Name’s Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing will:

  • Invest in more faculty, simulation training for students, and additional supplies and equipment;
  • Help keep the cost of an education more affordable for students;
  • Help Holy Name, New Jersey, and the nation increase access to care for patients and deliver the highest standard of health care; and
  • Help create a pipeline for medical professionals working in New Jersey and keep more doctors and nurses in the state.

“I want to thank Holy Name for the remarkable work they do in Englewood Cliffs at the Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing, helping to train all of these heroes. The COVID pandemic left behind a record level of burnout and our nation is facing a record nursing shortage, including right here in New Jersey. This is pure pandemic burnout — and the nursing shortage is a five-alarm fire for health care in our state and nation,” Gottheimer said. “Working closely with local leaders and the health care community, we fought for, and have officially clawed back from Washington to Holy Name, $3.8 million to help the Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing train more nurses — dozens more every year. This investment will go toward more faculty, simulation training for students, additional supplies and equipment, and it will also help keep the cost of an education more affordable. This will help Holy Name grow their future nursing school class size to meet historic applicant levels. We’re helping create a pipeline for medical professionals working in Jersey — to keep doctors and nurses in the state.”

“It’s up to us to provide the best education, help build the pipeline of clinicians, and provide the top-notch care all patients deserve. The funding secured by Congressman Gottheimer in the TRAIN Act is critical going forward as we are positioned to train more nurses in the future,” President and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center Michael Maron said.

Gottheimer was joined at the Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing by President and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center Michael Maron, Vice President of Nursing at Holy Name Medical Center Cedar Wang, and nurses and health care workers.