WICHITA, Kan. – COVID has left hospitals short. In some cases, critically short on nurses. Tuesday, Ascension Via Christi St. Francis is hoping to boost its numbers.
“There’s just such a high demand for nurses,” said Matt Tyler, a nurse manager at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis.
Tyler has been in the business for 15 years now. He’s also seen first-hand the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has had in a hospital setting.
“It’s really showing us how flexible we can be and how we can think on the fly and make changes right then and just really shows you why you got into nursing in the first place,” said Tyler.
Tuesday the hospital is having an in-person interview event for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to hire more people.
Job offers could be made the same day.
This comes a week after the International Council of Nurses warns the world could soon be facing a nursing crisis and shortage.
The COVID effect, according to ICN, is causing nursing education and training delays as well as having a lasting impact on nurses already working.
“I think that is a very real thing,” said Tyler.
ICN says the “lack of protection,” “long and stressful shifts” along with low wages are causing both mental and physical health stress. Many nurses are leaving or planning to leave the profession.
Tyler said, “We work very hard to try to make sure that everybody has that opportunity to rotate and rotate out, have their break, and just listen to the nurse at the bedside and what their needs are.”
In 2020, data from the Kansas Hospital Association shows the turnover rate for registered nurses went from seven percent in 2019 to 10 percent last year.
Even so, Tyler says he’s excited for the hiring event and thinks it will bring a lot of new opportunity to flexible people interested in nursing.
All persons attending the event should be in good health and not have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, nor with any known exposure in the past 14 days. Please enter through the main lobby and comply with the entry point screening criteria. Masks must be worn, and strict social distancing guidelines must be followed.
Event Details:
Meet nursing leaders from various specialties, representing all four Wichita hospitals
On-the-spot interviews
Possible same day offers
Business casual and scrub attire welcome
Please bring a copy of your resume
New grads and experienced professional encouraged to attend
All event attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a Yeti cooler
