#GivingTuesday

Hundreds of high school students filled the gymnasium—some in jeans, others in slacks, and several even sporting ties and smart suits—each assessing the rows of booths. Their expressions were transparent: So this is a career fair, and these are my career options. How do I get there?

Since 2004, Washington Center for Nursing has been connecting with students at high school career fairs. We want to make the path to a nursing career clear and attainable. Many students are unaware of the courses required for a nursing career. They see the good nurses do, they may want to become a nurse, but they don’t realize that nursing is technical career requiring science and math skills. For us, engaging with the students, informing them of Washington nurse camps and scholarship opportunities, is our way of helping them start pursuing their goals.

Displaced men trade their blue collar jobs for nursing

Pressed from Nursing and Respiratory Care

Displaced men trade their blue collar jobs for nursing.

What Nursing Shortage?

By Washington Center for Nursing

People ask us all the time: Is there really a nursing shortage? “My cousin just got laid off—my newly graduated child cannot find a job. If people need care, why are qualified nursing students being turned away from education and qualified nurses losing their positions?” To this we say: Excellent question. We’re glad you asked.

In the events of the unforeseen economic downturn, Health Care Professionals across the nation delayed retirement, part-timers became full-timers to support a laid off spouse, and hospitals cut staff to preserve budgets. We learned that nursing, although touted as a recession-proof career, was not immune to economic trends. The anticipated shortage had taken a brief break—but only to gather steam.

The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, also known as Health Care Reform, is expected to make at least 300,000 more individuals eligible for health care coverage in Washington State in 2014. All this at a time when those nurses who’ve delayed retirement will begin leaving the workforce, and as recent budget cuts to education have decreased the capacity of some nursing schools. We’re left wondering whether our institutions will have the ability to educate enough nurses in time to care for a growing patient population.