Retention Needed To Alleviate Nurse Shortage

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Health care officials say the industry must find ways to retain older nurses and mentor the younger ones to fight a critical shortage of workers. Health care experts attending a

Wednesday, October 31st 2007, 9:55 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Health care officials say the industry must find ways to retain older nurses and mentor the younger ones to fight a critical shortage of workers. Health care experts attending a conference in Oklahoma City say coming retirements and a lack of faculty to train more nurses will leave Oklahoma with a shortage of 3,135 registered nurses in five years.

The experts also predict a shortage of more than 600 medical and lab technicians, nearly 450 physical therapists, more than 300 surgical technicians and nearly 175 occupational therapists.

The workshop was hosted by the Oklahoma Healthcare Workforce Center which was created by the state Legislature to coordinate efforts to address employment needs in the health industry and submit a plan to lawmakers next year.

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5/12/2007 Oklahoma Facing Nursing Shortage