Maryland's agenda: moving the faculty shortage to the forefront.

As the United States faces an ever-increasing nursing and faculty shortage, Maryland has become a leader in finding innovative ways to address the faculty shortage crisis in an effort to increase the number of bedside nurses. Three years of diligent advocacy involving multiple stakeholders has finally garnered results. In December 2005, the Maryland Heath Care Cost Review Commission and Maryland's Higher Education Commission, with the support of the state government's executive and legislative branches, launched an unprecedented 10-year, $8.8 million annual initiative to address the faculty shortage in the state. This article discusses the process that led to Maryland becoming a national leader in addressing the nurse faculty shortage.