Share This Article
Article Summary
UC Medical Center nurses are raising concerns about staffing after a sharp decline in the number of new nurses attending hospital orientations. The Registered Nurse Association of UC Medical Center presented a memorandum to UC Health addressing staffing, recruitment and retention. The union says Greater Cincinnati’s broader nursing shortage is contributing to the challenge, while UC continues expanding its nursing education pipeline and recruiting nurses.
Nurses at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center are raising concerns about staffing as the number of new hires entering the hospital has fallen.
The Registered Nurse Association of UC Medical Center presented a memorandum to UC Health outlining concerns about staffing, retention and working conditions.
Kylee Ham, president of the nurses’ association, said the union has seen a sharp decline in the number of nurses attending new-hire orientations.
“We usually have between 20 and 40 new hires” during biweekly orientations, Ham told FOX19. She said one recent orientation had five new hires and the previous one had four.
The union says the decline comes as more nurses leave bedside care or the nursing profession.
UC nurses seek changes to staffing
The nurses’ memorandum calls for steps to improve recruitment and retention at UC Medical Center.
Among the issues raised by the union are benefits, wages and the hospital’s use of temporary travel nurses.
The union also has a safe-staffing proposal memorandum of understanding listed on its website. It has also announced an extra-shift bonus for nurses covering critical staffing needs through Oct. 10, 2026.
UC Health said it appreciates its nurses and will continue working with the Registered Nurse Association to make sure its workforce has the resources and support needed to care for patients.
The memorandum comes as hospitals nationwide continue to deal with challenges related to recruiting and retaining nurses.
Also read: Cincinnati nursing school opens amid shortage on healthcare workers
Cincinnati faces broader nursing shortage
The staffing concerns at UC Medical Center come amid a broader shortage of nurses in the Cincinnati region.
The University of Cincinnati said in June that Greater Cincinnati has an estimated 10% unfilled nursing vacancy rate. UC nursing administrator Richard Prior also said Ohio had a shortage of more than 2,400 registered nurses in 2025.
UC has been expanding its nursing education pipeline in response.
The university planned to increase first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing enrollment from 280 students to 400 for fall 2026. UC said applications for the program had also increased by 23%.
The effort is intended to increase the number of nurses entering the profession, although additional graduates do not immediately resolve staffing and retention challenges at hospitals.
UC continues recruiting nurses
UC Health continues to advertise nursing positions at UC Medical Center and other facilities.
Current openings include registered nurse positions in specialized units and other areas of the health system. UC Health has also advertised positions in its float pool, including a premium for nurses working in that role.
The union’s memorandum therefore comes as UC Health continues efforts to recruit nurses while nurses’ representatives push for measures they say could improve retention.
The staffing discussion also follows financial pressures across the health care industry.
UC Health announced a hiring freeze in late 2025 as it sought to control spending. The health system said the freeze applied to non-patient-facing positions and did not affect nursing hires.
For UC Medical Center nurses, however, the current focus is on whether the hospital can attract enough new nurses and retain those already working at the bedside.
Read:
FAQs
Why are UC Medical Center nurses raising staffing concerns?
The nurses’ union says the number of new hires entering UC Medical Center has declined. It also says more nurses are leaving bedside care or the profession.
What does the nurses’ memorandum address?
The memorandum addresses staffing, recruitment and retention. The union has also raised issues involving benefits, wages and the use of temporary travel nurses.
Is there a nursing shortage in Cincinnati?
The University of Cincinnati has reported an estimated 10% unfilled nursing vacancy rate in Greater Cincinnati. UC has also cited an Ohio shortage of more than 2,400 registered nurses in 2025.
