"Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Cuts 400 Jobs Amid Financial Losses"

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) has laid off around 400 workers, less than 2% of its workforce, primarily in non-patient-facing roles. The layoffs come as healthcare workers in Washington state report feeling burned out, unsafe, and underpaid, with nearly half planning to quit within a few years. The nursing shortage is a nationwide issue, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a need for 275,000 nurses in the next seven years. The Washington State Legislature has drafted bills to address the shortage, which have passed in the Senate and are currently in the House.