Two Local Programs Helping to Fill Nursing Shortage

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Story Published: Oct 8, 2009 at 10:10 PM PDT

By Molly Kelleher

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TRI-CITIES -- The jobs are there, but the space available in nursing programs is tight.

There are two local programs and both aim to get students into the medical field.

One program is about to open up more slots; the other is turning people away.

At WSU Tri-Cities the nursing program is in such high demand they're turning students away

"The last two semesters we had three times as many applicants than we could accommodate," Phyllis Morris

High demand because of a nationwide nursing shortage also means there's a nursing teacher shortage. The school can't let more than 136 students in because there's not enough faculty

One cost-efficient answer is teleconferencing with an instructor based in Spokane and classes in Yakima, Tri-Cities and Vancouver joining in from afar.

The problem at Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center is not enough teachers, it's space -- a problem they just solved.

In just a couple of weeks a new wing for YVTech will open and more space means more programs and more students can take advantage.

Programs like this are helping fill the gaps with shortages in the local clinics and hospitals.

YVTech Director Craig Dewight said of about 250 people that graduated their medical programs 225 have stayed in our area.

About 50 percent from the WSU Tri-Cities program stay local, but the program director says that's because we're not feeling the nursing shortage as much as other states -- so students go where the jobs are.

Here's another reason nursing is in such high demand: money. Some graduates right out of school can expect to make $80,000 a year.

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