Hospitals are laying off nurses right now—and most people won’t see it coming.
Here’s what’s actually happening, which roles are being cut, and how to plan ahead.
Hey {{first_name|nurse}},
We’ve been hearing more and more of the same thing lately.
Nurses messaging us saying the a few CNAs on their unit just disappeared.
Peds and L&D units closing.
Shifts being cut.
Float pool positions disappearing.
And nobody giving any real explanation—just vague language about “budget cuts.”
It’s happening quietly. But it’s happening in a lot of places.
Medicaid Cuts Are Triggering This
Once the proposed $800 million in Medicaid cuts go into effect, hospitals are going to lose money fast. Especially safety-net and rural hospitals that rely on it to cover ER visits, skilled nursing, maternity care, and patients needing long-term care.
Once that funding disappears, leadership starts cutting the budget from wherever they can. That usually starts with lower-wage positions and departments that don’t generate enough revenue. But it doesn’t stop there.
Nursing Roles Getting Hit First
Here’s what we’re seeing across the country:
LPNs and LVNs – Hospitals are shifting their duties over to RNs to save money. These are usually the first roles on the chopping block.
CNAs – A lot of units are pulling CNAs entirely. That just pushes more basic care onto the RNs who are already stretched thin.
Pediatric and L&D Nurses – We’ve seen entire peds and maternal health units get shut down or merged with other floors. Those nurses either get reassigned—or laid off.
Home Health Nurses – There’s a drop in approved hours, and that means fewer visits. Agencies are downsizing because of it.
Rural and Community Hospital RNs – These facilities are the most financially vulnerable. When the funding disappears, some of them don’t recover—they just shut down.
Outpatient Clinic Nurses – Preventive care services are being cut in a lot of areas. That leads to fewer shifts and fewer available positions.
If you’re seeing these changes at your hospital, they’re not random. They’re part of a larger trend.
What Some Nurses Are Telling Us
“We went from 3 CNAs to zero in less than a month”
“Our peds unit shut down. Ten nurses were reassigned or laid off.”
“They’re offering us early retirement to avoid having to say the word ‘layoff.’”
If this sounds familiar, you aren’t the only one hearing or experiencing it. It’s happening more often than people think.
It’s Not Just Nurses
Hospitals are also cutting:
Medical Assistants – Fewer patients coming into clinics means a lot of MAs are losing hours or getting let go.
Respiratory Therapists – A lot of hospitals are scaling back on adult and pediatric beds, so RTs aren’t being scheduled as much.
Social Workers + Case Managers – With less funding for discharge planning and follow-up care, hospitals are trimming these roles down too.
Pharmacy Techs + Pharmacists – Outpatient meds are getting cut from budgets, so there’s less work in outpatient pharmacy.
Lab + Radiology Techs – Elective procedures are being delayed or canceled, which means fewer shifts for lab and imaging staff.
Housekeeping / EVS – Fewer staff means slower room turnover and more infection control issues—everyone feels that when it happens.These cuts affect the entire care team—and ultimately the quality of care patients receive.
What This Means for Patient Care
We’re seeing more uninsured patients in the ER.
Delayed treatments.
Missed doses.
Staff taking on extra responsibilities without extra support.
And more nurses quitting—not because of burnout, but because they’re tired of being the last to find out.
What You Can Do With Map My Pay
Here’s what you can actually do inside the app:
See where layoffs are happening
We track patterns by city and role, and post it in our community, so you’re not caught off guard when jobs start disappearing.Compare wage stability
Some health systems are doing fine. Others are barely staying open. You can compare pay, cost of living, and financial stability side by side.Read real reviews from nurses
No recruiter spin—just honest insight from people who’ve worked there.Start planning your next move early
Whether you’re thinking about switching regions, changing specialties, or lining up a travel contract, we help you run the numbers first—before you make a move.
Roles With the Highest Layoff Risk Right Now
Position | Layoff Risk |
|---|---|
LPN/LVN | VERY HIGH |
CNA | HIGH |
Pediatric Nurse (Hospital) | HIGH |
Maternal Health Nurse | HIGH |
Rural Hospital RN | HIGH |
Home Health Nurse | MEDIUM-HIGH |
Outpatient Clinic Nurse | MEDIUM-HIGH |
ICU/ED Nurse (Urban) | LOW-MEDIUM |
Medical Assistant | HIGH |
Respiratory Therapist | MEDIUM-HIGH |
Social Worker / Case Manager | MEDIUM-HIGH |
Pharmacy Tech / Pharmacist | MEDIUM-HIGH |
Lab / Radiology Tech | MEDIUM-HIGH |
Housekeeping / EVS | HIGH |
You don’t need to panic. But you do need to pay attention.
Final Thought
Hospitals aren’t going to send a memo titled “Layoffs Are Coming.”
They’ll just start cutting hours, slowing down hiring, and offering people a “graceful exit.”
That’s why we built Map My Pay. To help you move with purpose instead of reacting in panic.
The sooner you start looking at the trends, the better your options will be.