Massachusetts is launching a nursing apprenticeship initiative aimed at addressing the state’s healthcare workforce shortage while helping employers build a more stable pipeline of nurses.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services awarded $240,000 to the Massachusetts Nursing Council on Workforce Sustainability to develop licensed practical nurse and registered nurse apprenticeship programs expected to launch in early 2027. The council will partner with the state’s Division of Apprentice Standards to oversee the initiative.
Although the program is statewide, its administrative hub is in Worcester. The Nursing Council on Workforce Sustainability was established in 2021 through the Massachusetts Healthcare Collaborative Nursing Task Force in partnership with ForHealth Consulting at Worcester’s UMass Chan Medical School and state health and labor agencies. The council will serve as the apprenticeship sponsor, providing technical assistance and administrative support to participating employers and colleges.
Four partnerships received $60,000 each to develop apprenticeship programs that combine paid, on-the-job training with traditional nursing education:
- Chelsea Jewish Lifecare and Bunker Hill Community College
- Duffy Health Center and Cape Cod Community College
- Mass General Brigham and Greenfield Community College
- Mass General Brigham Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Roxbury Community College
The apprenticeships will allow students to earn wages while completing nursing degrees and required clinical training. The model is intended to reduce financial barriers for students while helping employers recruit, train, and retain workers.
Jay Prosser, executive director of the Nursing Council on Workforce Sustainability, said apprentices can gain experience in the same healthcare settings where they may work after graduation. That familiarity could reduce orientation costs and ease the transition from nursing school to full-time practice.
“Why would we not invest in this?” Prosser said. “We’re improving staff retention, creating career pathways and saving money.”
Labor is among hospitals’ largest expenses while recruiting replacement nurses and relying on contract labor can further strain operating margins, Prosser said.
The initiative comes as Massachusetts healthcare providers continue to face nursing shortages across hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and community-based care settings. Nursing schools have struggled with limited program capacity, faculty shortages and clinical placement constraints, leaving some qualified applicants unable to enroll.
The apprenticeship model could help improve retention by allowing students to gain paid, hands-on experience while receiving ongoing mentorship from experienced nurses, helping bridge the gap between academic training and real-world patient care, Prosser said.
“Registered apprenticeship is a proven workforce strategy,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones said in a statement. “By teaming up with the Nursing Council on Workforce Sustainability, nursing apprenticeships will expand access to the nursing profession, help reduce barriers to employment and build a talent pipeline for the industry in regions across Massachusetts.”
Sarah Bruns is a correspondent for Worcester Business Journal.
