Schools and states around the country are chipping away at the nursing shortage, adding some money here and cutting some waiting lists there. In Maryland, a new plan has state hospital and university leaders seeking to double the number of new nurses educated within two years.

Estimating the cost of the initiative at $59 million, officials are hoping private foundations can help the state foot the bill. Much of the money will go to hiring 360 new faculty members for colleges and universities across the state. The funds will help provide salaries competitive with those found in the clinical setting.

According to The Baltimore Sun, 33,000 qualified nursing students across the country were turned down last year due to a lack of educators.

Source: The Baltimore Sun