Phoenix, AZ 

From thriving to being furloughed

What a difference a year makes — in July 2019, we launched our first program, the Certificate in Nurse Leadership, which is one of the first online leadership offerings for nurses in the nation. At the time, the profession was thriving and the outlook was bright, with more than 3.8M registered nurses, and nursing schools that couldn’t keep up with the demand.

A year later — even though it may seem longer to most — we are over six months into the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.4 million healthcare workers — many of them nurses — were laid off or furloughed in April 2020 alone. While many patients are still limiting themselves to getting only the most urgent care, health systems continue to struggle and the trend of furloughing staff continues.

Upskilling and reskilling in the age of COVID-19

To meet the needs of today or find new opportunities, many nurses are looking to workforce development programs, especially affordable and flexible online options. These programs can provide the skills that employers seek when making staffing decisions and can help valuable workers retain or gain new positions. Leadership skills at all levels are especially important in the current situation to manage ongoing challenges, to motivate colleagues during stressful times, and to prevent burnout.