Nursing Workforce Grants

[Philanthropy News Digest] The Robert Wood Johnson and Northwest Health foundations have announced grants totaling $2 million to nine regional grantmakers working to develop strategies for creating and sustaining a viable nursing workforce.

The grants were made through the Partners Investing in Nursing's Future (PIN) program, which has awarded $12 million over the past five years to develop a nursing workforce that is large enough and equipped with the skills necessary to meet the changing demands of the patient population. Recipients include the Bingham Program in Maine, which is working to redesign nursing education in the state; the Caring for Colorado Foundation, which is working to increase the number and core competencies of home healthcare nurses; and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, which is addressing workforce retention issues at acute and long-term care institutions.

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500 new jobs in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― The University of Pittsburgh Medical Central plans to add 500 jobs this fiscal year after announcing operating income that jumped 13 percent in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The 20-hospital network generated $8 billion in revenue and netted $240 million in operating income for fiscal 2010, up from $212 million in 2009.

The increased income comes after two years of steep decreases. UPMC's operating income was $321 million in 2006, but dropped to $220 million in 2007 and $184 million in 2008.

Most of the jobs will be added at two of the network's major Pittsburgh hospitals, UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside, though nurses and physician assistants could also be hired at UPMC Passavant, north of the city, Magee Womens Hospital, in Pittsburgh, and UPMC McKeesport, about 15 miles away.