U.S. nonprofit to train over 3,500 nurse assistants
MARYLAND, UNITED STATES — Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD), a nonprofit organization, has announced plans to train and place 3,570 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in Maryland, Texas, and Florida by 2024.
DWD expects to generate $80 million
The initiative is a response to the ongoing healthcare staffing shortage in the United States. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a shortage of some 102,400 and 180,400 physicians by 2034.
DWD estimates its training and job placement initiative to generate around $80 million in annual earnings.
The nonprofit offers free CNA training, job placement support, case management, and specialized services to individuals who lack opportunity but aspire to pursue careers in healthcare.
In 2023, the organization invested $1.3 million to support over 1,500 “Dwyer Scholars,” who will collectively earn an estimated $31 million in annual earnings.
DWD’s comprehensive approach not only addresses the staffing shortage but also aims to improve the lives of seniors by ensuring better care.
Biden’s 24/7 nurse mandate
The initiative also aims to help hospitals comply with the Biden administration’s groundbreaking rule establishing minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes receiving federal funding.
Under the new rule, nursing homes must provide a minimum of 3.48 hours of direct care per resident per day, including:
- 0.55 hours from registered nurses (RNs)
- 2.45 hours from certified nurse aides
Crucially, facilities must have an RN on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide oversight and care.
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) called the new rule an “unreasonable standard” that could lead to nursing home closures and limit senior citizens’ access to care.
“Issuing a final rule that demands hundreds of thousands of additional caregivers when there’s a nationwide shortfall of nurses just creates an impossible task for providers,” said AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson.
“This unfunded mandate doesn’t magically solve the nursing crisis.”
