FRANKFORT, Ky. — A new report from the Kentucky Hospital Association shows hospitals in the state face a shortage of nurses that is already affecting patient care and could lead to hospital closures.

Mike Sherrod, who runs TriStar Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green and chairs the Kentucky Hospital Association board, said the problem has been difficult on his staff.

“To walk through the hallways, talking with them, they’re still stressed and it’s hard to make sure that we’re giving great care that wants to come to our hospitals,” he said.

Sherrod said they’re doing alright in terms of having enough nurses to care for their patients. Other hospitals are sending patients their way because they don’t have enough nurses.

“We’re seeing a lot of challenges where it spills over from other states, where Memphis has a bed shortage, or Nashville,” he said. “We’re getting calls from other states to transfer patients in, which kind of stresses our system. We’ve been able to handle it, but I think as time goes on, it’s going to be more and more challenging.”

Sherrod said as it stands now, he would need another 200 nurses to feel fully staffed, and other hospitals are doing worse.

The Kentucky Hospital Association's report states 22% of all nursing jobs in the state are unfilled, and another 14% of nurses are near retirement. Hospitals also paying more for travel nurses, with a projected increase of 1,014% this year compared to 2019.

“It’s going to take a number of years. There’s no quick fix,” KHA President Nancy Galvagni said.

Galvagni said they’re working with multiple groups to train more nurses in both college and high school settings, but it’s tough, especially after COVID-19.

“From what I understand, there may be a bad perception of nursing because of COVID, because it was so very hard and people were working very hard,” she said. “And so we need to, I think, make people understand what a rewarding profession it is.”