UTICA — Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-119, Marcy, along with several other members of the state Assembly have signed onto a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, asking for the expansion of the Nurses for Our Future scholarship program to address the shortage of nurses in New York State.

Currently, according to the lawmakers, there are 9,300 openings for registered nurses in New York, adding that hospitals and nursing homes are hiring traveling nurses at 3 to 5 times the going or negotiated rate.

The nursing shortage is projected to hit 30,000 registered nurses by 2030; as a result, the legislators are asking for private colleges to be added to the program in the 2023-2024 budget.

“Nurses are such a critical part of our health care system and the shortage of such effects all aspects of the health care system being emergency care down to nursing homes. We need to be sure to do all we can to make it possible for those interested to be able to join this noble profession,” Buttenschon said.