Too many vacancies exist in medical support fields

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March 22, 2006

By Scott Fitzgerald The Enid News and Eagle Wed Mar 22, 2006, 01:40 PM CST

Different entities are stepping up to the plate to aid the medical field in a tough task that has to be addressed for current and future medical care.

“We still have a great need for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses,” said Carol Williams, a recruiter in the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center’s human resources department.

The problem is not limited to Enid.

According to an Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) Hospital Staffing Assessment 2005 Survey, the vacancy rate for registered nurse (RN) positions is 10.1 percent for hospitals across the state that have the greatest need in terms of staffing.

The vacancy rate for licensed practical nurse (LPN) positions is 8.4 percent.

OHA’s survey represented 84 percent of all 15,740 licensed hospital beds in Oklahoma. The response rate ranged from 76 to 88 percent.

“We’re seeing rehabilitation therapy as the next critical area,” Williams said.

The OHA survey further emphasizes her point.

Occupational therapists with an 18.9 percent followed by physical therapists with 16.7 percent carry the highest vacancy rates among all medical support occupations and positions.

A correlation occurring now in the medical field that is partly responsible for high numbers in the therapeutic fields is more outpatient centers and the rapid advancement of technology, Williams said.

The Northwest Oklahoma Coalition for Nursing Education that formed in 2001 to help provide support for people interested in nursing careers is now considering other allied professions to offer scholarship money, Williams said.

Higher education institutes and medical state boards are also helping out, Williams said.

“Educators have been good about changing schedules to meet student needs. Because you are seeing nursing as a second career for many those getting into the profession now, higher education officials have looked at the requirements and made some changes such as not repeating courses. They are also honoring a lot of work experience,” Williams said.

More nursing classes are being offered and more instructors are being hired.

Applying for nursing licenses through the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing can also be done online that is a big plus for Enid when Vance military wives for instance make inquiries before arriving here, Williams said.

St. Mary’s is seeking also to partner with vocational technology schools throughout the northwest and north central Oklahoma areas so students can do their clinical rotations here.

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