Yes and no. A lot of systems shifted to only hiring RNs with BSNs (as opposed to the other option, RNs with ASN/ADN), and trying to encourage/require their ASN RNs to get BSNs. A lot of governmental agencies and international authorities called for the phasing out of ASN RNs.

Then COVID happened and the nursing shortage got worse as nurses of all stripes died, became disabled, or just left the field, and all that talk got thrown out the window - at least where I live. Fewer nurses graduated and fewer nurses passed the NCLEX (worth noting that all grads, ASN and BSN, have to pass the exact same NCLEX), so we had more leaving and less coming in.

Some health systems have started hiring ASN RNs again. The health system I worked at after I graduated went BSN-only for a while (in part because it's attached to the large university I attended, and they prioritized their own grads), but they now hire ASN RNs again, because they need all the RNs they can get. You still sign an agreement to at least enroll in an ASN-to-BSN program within four years, but I don't know how closely they're sticking to that.

Education has suffered since COVID and as a result NCLEX pass rates have suffered since COVID, which has affected how many new RNs enter the workforce. But we’re bleeding current nurses. That can absolutely be helped.

(They’re also making the NCLEX “Next Gen” - aka more difficult - starting in April which isn’t going to help, but new RNs are also notoriously terrible, so it’s not unjustified.)

My area has some warming centers, and they're announcing them regularly on social media and the local news, but not everyone's able to get one.

I work in an ER, though I've been off since yesterday and don't go back until Monday. I've heard from friends/co-workers working yesterday and today, though, that we've had several homeless people come in with frostbite or freezing injuries - such as an arm or leg froze to a surface, like the ground, and the skin and tissue was damaged when the person moved.

And mind, we haven't gotten hit as badly in my area of MI as many other areas. Having been homeless, my heart breaks for them.

There's a guy I see every so often when I go to my aunt's to run errands for her, and I managed to get him to accept a winter coat and some gloves I got him. I wanted to get him some good boots, but he actually had some really decent ones he said he got from a charity a few weeks ago. There's a shelter I called that would take him, but he didn't want to go. (Unfortunately you can't force help on everyone; again, I've been in that place years ago.) I really, really hope he's okay.