Nation-Wide Nurse Shortage

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – If you thought things were bad enough for hospitals with this flu epidemic, think again.

Across the country, medical facilities have seen a shortage in registered nurses.

“All of the people we have working for us are very qualified; they’re very professional,” said Winston County Medical CEO, Paul Black.

Recently, though, there’s been a high turnover rate of registered nurses.

Hospitals like Winston Medical Center in Louisville say it’s because nurses want the simple 8 to 5 shift.

“We have the need for nurses at the various hours that people really don’t want to work, so that’s where the issue comes up,” continued Black.

“We’re open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, holidays included,” said Head of Nursing at WCM, Tibby Koon.

Even if nurses are to get the shifts they want, there’s still a large amount of work waiting for them.

“It’s hard work, sometimes,” continued Koon. “There’s so many other fields that go into it. They come to work at 6:30 in the morning, get their patient assignments, and work with patients all day.”

On the academic side, instructors can see why fewer nurses are staying in the field.

“You know, if you have 15 patients that you’re trying to care for at the very best that you can, you just can’t do it. We have limitations,” said EMCC nursing instructor, Terasa Harpole.

Communication between hospitals and nursing programs can help solve some of these issues.

“We have advisory committees that come out to our campus,” said Harpole. “They tell us that, our graduates, what they lack in and what they excel in. We take that into consideration whenever we are planning any type of curriculum or changing our curriculum.”

Curriculum changes can provide students like Mandi Tallent the skills she needs in a real-world hospital.

“Our teachers are very well-trained here,” said Tallen. “They help us in the lab as you can see we’re in the lab. They come in here and they tell us how to take blood pressure. They come in here and show us exactly what we’re looking for.”

Of course, students aren’t walking into the profession blind.

They’re made aware of the stress it can bring, another reason for the nurse shortage.

“They get tired,” said Harpole. “They get burned out, and they change careers because sometimes it’s very strenuous and very stressful.”

“You’ve got to be on your toes at all time, but I think I can handle it, make sure they know that their problem is in my hands and I can take care of them,” said Tallent.

Once in the field, willing to put in the work every day, they might just be able to make a career out of nursing.

“…so when I walk into the room in a hospital or something I want them to feel like they’re at home,” said Tallent.

“It’s hard work, but it’s very rewarding, seeing patients get better, going home,” said Koon.

“They come here to do what they were trying to do and what they always want to do their entire life, and that’s take care of people,” said Black.

Another reason for the shortage is due to students pursuing higher education on top of being a registered nurse, but for the staff at Winston County Medical they say their dedicated workforce will keep their hospital going.