Supporting Nurses in New York

There's a reason so many people come home from a hospital stay talking about their nurses. With compassion and care, nurses help nervous patients feel better emotionally while they heal physically.

But behind that care, there’s a workforce under serious strain. A 2023 study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that nearly one-fifth of the country's 4.5 million registered nurses intend to leave the workforce by 2027, driven by burnout, stress and retirement.

Nursing is a calling, and it shouldn’t be a sacrifice. Through generosity, foundations and communities are stepping up to care for the people who care for them.

Investing in New York’s Nurses

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the largest foundation focused exclusively on health care in New York state, saw that generosity could play a key role in caring for those who care for everyone. In 2025, the Foundation committed $51 million over five years to help 13 of the state’s hospitals reduce burnout, address the root causes of nursing shortages and strengthen patient care.

Each of the selected hospitals serves as a safety net, caring for urban and rural communities with the fewest resources, including areas where a high share of patients rely on Medicaid or lack insurance entirely.

Generosity Builds Healthcare

The Foundation spent years getting it right, commissioning a workforce report from New York's Center for Health Workforce Studies before designing the grant program around its findings. 

Each participating hospital will receive between $1 million and $5 million to pursue Magnet Recognition or Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which are national standards that recognize hospitals with strong nursing environments, lower turnover and better patient outcomes. Grants also support virtual nursing and nurse residency programs.

"New York nurses are the backbone of patient care, demonstrating dedication and resilience," said Monsignor Greg Mustaciuolo, CEO of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. "Our Nursing Initiative is designed to provide the resources needed to ensure they can thrive and deliver the highest quality of care.”

The Foundation estimates that the investment will benefit more than 6,500 nurses statewide and positively affect more than 7 million outpatient visits annually. For the nurses at those hospitals, the stakes are personal.

"This investment in our nurses will help us deliver the best quality of care to the patients that count on us," said Catherine Nicpon, a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.