The following is a joint public statement from Pino D. Colone, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, and Julia Stocker Schneider, PhD, RN, CNL, president of American Nurses Association – Michigan, in response to the growing nursing shortage across the country.

“Given the nursing shortage currently impacting patient care across Michigan, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and the American Nurses Association - Michigan (ANA-Michigan) believe thoughtful, deliberate attention and action are needed to ensure there are enough nurses available to provide the expert care Michigan patients need.

The fact is the pandemic has taken a severe toll on the emotional and mental well-being of nurses throughout the state. These factors have led to an unprecedented rate of nurse burnout, increased risk for suicide, nurses walking off the job, with many choosing to retire earlier than planned or simply leaving health care altogether. These shortages have led to significant delays in patients getting hospital beds for elective procedures and chemotherapy, a bottleneck of patients in emergency departments and urgent care facilities, and substantial cost challenges for hospitals.

MSMS and ANA-Michigan stand ready to collaborate with hospitals, health systems, and our fellow health care professionals to find ways to address the mental health toll and physical hardships Michigan’s nursing community is facing. Working together to provide nurses with the support they need during this incredibly challenging time will go a long way towards reducing the impact of the growing nursing shortage in our state, ensuring Michigan patients continue to receive the timely, quality care they deserve.”