Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Restoring the Nursing Workforce at Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with Michele Szkolnicki
Feb 21, 2026
Michele Szkolnicki, Senior VP and Chief Nursing Officer at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey, leads efforts to rebuild and stabilize nursing after COVID. She describes achieving zero percent vacancy on med-surg units. She explains unit specialization, building nurse leaders, and how nursing can drive value amid insurance and regulatory headwinds.
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Multi-Pronged Workforce Restoration
- Restoring the nursing workforce required multiple coordinated strategies rather than a single fix.
- Sustained turnover fell under 9% and vacancy hit 2.65% after multi-year efforts led by Michele Szkolnicki.
Use International Hires And RN Ambassadors
- Recruit internationally and deploy RN ambassadors to nursing schools and fairs.
- Highlight certification and RN-to-BSN growth opportunities to entice candidates.
Create Unit Identities To Attract Nurses
- Give med-surg units clear identities and specialty focuses to attract new nurses.
- Segment surgical and cancer floors so nurses can pursue expertise and feel professionally fulfilled.