BALTIMORE — Nurses care for us in the most crucial moments of our lives.
And right now, our state doesn't have enough.
Earlier this week, we told you about two universities teaming up to fight that shortage.
RELATED: Maryland battles nursing shortage
On Friday, the program became official.
According to a study by Nurse Journal, Maryland ranks in the bottom ten states for nurse-to-population ratio at just 8 nurses per 1,000 people.
Notre Dame of Maryland University and Goucher College are helping get that number up.
They're now partnered to have Goucher graduates roll directly into Notre Dame's accelerated nursing program, where students earn a nursing degree in as little as 15 months.
"As we know, in Maryland, according to the Maryland Hospital Association, one in every four vacant positions are posted for nursing. This a major, major issue. This MOU will help build the pipeline of registered nurses in our state," said Marylou Yam, president of Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Students can take classes for the program at NDMU's main campus or in a hybrid format at the university's satellite campus in Elkridge.
