Industry News

Top Nursing News Stories of 2024

  • Strikes, lawsuits, and federal mandates were among the biggest nursing news stories of 2024. 
  • Based on readership data, Nursing CE Central has compiled the Top 10 stories that were of most interest to you. 
  • We look forward to continuing to provide in-depth analysis and observations in the new year. 

Kari Williams

Nursing CE Central

December 30, 2024
Simmons University

From strikes to lawsuits to federal mandates, there was no shortage of nursing news throughout 2024. As the year winds down, Nursing CE Central is reflecting on the top nursing news stories our readers were most interested in. 

Below you’ll find our Top 10 Nursing News articles, ranked in reverse (for the suspense, of course!), with the No. 1 story at the end of the list. 

Top Nursing News

Top Nursing News Stories

[10] ‘Baffling’ Departure: Understanding the Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Lawsuit 

The first of multiple lawsuits filed against the federal nursing home staffing mandate. The American Health Care Association filed suit, alleging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid violated the Administrative Procedures Act. Some nursing organizations supported the ruling, but several others voiced opposition. READ MORE.

[9] This University’s Entire Nursing Faculty Resigned. How Did it Get That Far? 

Just weeks before the start of the fall semester, Dickinson State University’s seven-person nursing faculty team cited workload and accreditation concerns as the breaking point for their exit. The North Dakota Board of Nursing and then-university president offered conflicting views of the situation. READ MORE.

[8] Could FTC’s Noncompete Ban Inject Life into the Nursing Field?

The Federal Trade Commission announced in April that it would establish a ban on noncompete clauses across U.S. industries. Though it cannot currently be enforced, the ruling means nurses won’t be hindered by noncompete clauses if they choose to leave an employer. READ MORE.

[7] New Lawsuit Filed in Opposition to Federal Nursing Home Staffing Mandate 

A second lawsuit was filed in response to the federal nursing home staffing mandate. It makes the same argument as the first suit — that the ruling from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violated the Administrative Procedure Act. READ MORE.

[6] In Session: The State of the School Nurse 

School nurses have expressed concerns about appropriate staffing for years — well before the COVID-19 pandemic put national media attention on the nursing workforce. A study published earlier this year renewed that conversation, finding that only 65.7% of schools have a full-time nurse on staff. READ MORE.

Top Nursing News

[5] IV Shortages Lead to Pause in Non-Emergency Surgeries 

In addition to staffing shortages, the healthcare industry has also had to address supply shortage. This time in relation to IVs. The Department of Health and Human Services enacted the Defense Production Act to help one IV fluid manufacturing plant acquire necessary materials after the site was taken out of commission by Hurricane Helene. READ MORE.

[4] What the Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Means for you 

Following the staffing mandate announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Nursing CE Central broke down the requirements and how they would affect nurses. Some organizations believed an unfunded mandate wouldn’t solve the workforce shortage, while others were happy that a registered nurse would be required on-site 24/7 for skilled nursing facilities. READ MORE.

[3] Lawsuit: Nursing Home Residents the ‘Main Victims’ of Federal Staffing Mandate 

Lawsuits opposing the federal nursing home staffing mandate continued to make the rounds, this time at the state level. Twenty state attorneys general signed onto this particular suit, alleging that residents were most at risk because of the mandated staffing regulations. They went so far as to call the mandate an “existential threat.” READ MORE.

[2] Supreme Court Ruling Among Potential Hurdles for Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

In addition to filings throughout the country, a Supreme Court ruling also presented a roadblock for federal nursing home staffing mandate. The court overturned the Chevron deference — a four-decade old standard that required courts to “defer to reasonable agency decisions where federal law is silent or unclear.” The American Nurses Association condemned the ruling, arguing that government public health policies can be challenged through the courts. READ MORE.

[1] White House’s $6B Student Debt Relief Includes Nursing Industry 

And our top story for 2024 was the White House’s efforts to reduce student debt across the country. Nurses who met the qualifications for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness plan were eligible. Some nursing organizations welcomed the debt relief, as nursing is among professions with the highest amount of student loan debt. READ MORE.

Top Nursing News

The Bottom Line

Articles were selected based on Google Analytics pageview data obtained on Dec. 18, 2024. We would like to extend a special thank you to all of the journalists, researchers, and academics who did the heavy lifting and original reporting that allowed Nursing CE Central to bring you comprehensive coverage of nursing industry trends, news, and key insights. 

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