When the population of patients at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield gets high enough that more nurses are needed, Mary Niggemann volunteers to take on an extra shift.
"Some people like to keep their individual shifts," said the registered nurse on the general surgical floor. "I'm not one of those. I think, being a working mom, you have to maintain flexibility on both sides."
The nation is continuing to experience a shortage of nurses, although Saint Joseph's Hospital is almost at full staff now. Two years ago, the hospital was using a supplemental pool of nurses. Those in the pool are regularly scheduled to be a nurse - but not in a specific unit - to fill in where needed, said Linda Hertel, nurse manager for the north orthopedic surgical unit. Together, with the regular staff volunteering for extra shifts, the hospital was able to cover all of the shifts during the shortage.
Wisconsin Rapids' River-view Hospital nursing shortage has eased since Mid-State Technical College doubled its nursing program over the past year, said Peggy Ose, vice president of patient services.
During the shortages, nurses were offered incentives and bonuses to take on extra shifts, and the hospital hired out for agency nurses.
"We did that for a very brief period of time during the height of the shortage," Ose said. "We haven't used agency nurses for two to three years. It was costly, and they don't know the staff."
Even though area hospitals aren't in desperate need for nurses, the potential for a shortage could happen through retirements, Ose said.
"I think that the individuals who are saying there is a nationwide shortage are looking into the future," she said. "It's difficult work, heavy work; you're on your feet all day. People don't typically work as a staff nurse until (age) 65."
During the shortage at Saint Joseph's, Niggemann said she felt a bit of the pressure.
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