New legislation, higher operational costs, and continued labor shortages are some of the many financial challenges facing healthcare today.
There are many challenges facing CNOs and other healthcare executives in 2026.
New legislation and economic uncertainty have paved the way for complex financial challenges that will impact the entire industry, including nursing. According to the members who participated in a recent HealthLeaders Exchange community call, nursing is often the first item to be targeted on a budget for reductions, and so all of these hurdles pose serious threats to an already fragile financial balance.
Here are 10 financial challenges facing healthcare that CNOs need to prepare for and understand.
G Hatfield is the CNO editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Financial challenges impact nursing because they can put limitations of care delivery and maintaining quality for patients.
CNOs must partner with CFOs and CEOs to navigate and address these issues in their health systems.