Wanted: nurses

  • BRYAN CORLISS / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, October 22, 2000 9:00pm
  • Local News

Better opportunities elsewhere help create serious shortage

By BRYAN CORLISS

Herald Writer

EVERETT — Imagine you’re Carol Kubeldis and your job is finding workers to fill 118 new positions at Providence Medical Center’s Everett facilities and that’s a big relief — because in your last job, you had to find trained health care workers to fill 600 empty jobs, if you can imagine that.

It’s like that all around Puget Sound, and the nation as well, people doing the hiring in the health care industry say. There just aren’t enough workers, particularly nurses, to go around.

"Everyone is just struggling, nationally," said Kubeldis, whose title is recruiting manager for Providence-Everett. "It’s a great job market if you’re a registered nurse."

Right now there are 300,000 unfilled jobs for registered nurses nationwide, according to a recent Vanderbuilt University study. By 2010, the supply of trained nurses will fall 20 percent short of demand, the study projects.

The reasons are clear, local hiring managers said: Young people are choosing high-tech careers rather than health care, so there’s a drop in new workers; veteran baby-boom nurses are reaching retirement age; and mid-career nurses are leaving the field to take better-paying jobs in health care-related fields.

The problem is worse at nursing homes, said Thomas Gray, an executive with Bethany of the Northwest. "They hire them away from us because they can pay more."

But hospitals, in turn, are losing trained nurses to high-tech jobs, Kubeldis said. "We can’t offer stock options."

And the new economy is creating opportunities for trained nurses, she added. Thousands each year complete the training they need to become physician assistants or nurse practitioners — health-care workers licensed to work more independently and, in some cases, prescribe medicines.

To fill his openings, Gray said Bethany has started training its own employees with in-house classes for nurse’s aides.

Providence recruits nationally for some specialized positions, like operating-room or intensive-care nurses, Kubeldis said. For other jobs, it offers current employees bonuses for referring friends who end up getting hired — $500 for Everett jobs and up to $2,500 for some hard-to-fill Seattle slots.

But all in all, it’s probably easier to recruit nurses into jobs in Everett than it was in Seattle, her last job, Kubeldis said.

In Seattle, there are so many health care institutions competing for workers that it usually boils down to a bidding war, she said, and the deepest pocket wins.

Money’s still an issue in Everett, but there also are other factors, she said. The lack of a commute is a carrot she dangles in front of Snohomish County residents now working in Seattle.

Still, Kubeldis is going to need a whole bunch of carrots if she’s going to fill the 43 Everett openings Providence had specifically for registered nurses last week.

It’s the same in his business, Gray said.

"I can’t talk to one nursing home administrator that’s not running short," he said. "It’s not as much fun as it used to be."

At Lakevue Gardens Convalescent Center in Kirkland, executive director Matthew Lysobey has come up with an unusual way to recruit nurses: Any employee who brings a new nurse on board has a crack at winning a vacation to the island of his or her choice.

"Fiji, Bali, Aruba, Hawaii — we’ll send them anywhere," he said.

When it comes to hiring, nursing homes have always had a tough time competing with hospitals.

"Young nurses just graduating want to be in the (emergency room) or critical care. That’s what looks glamorous and exciting to them," said Ruth Craven, assistant dean at the University of Washington School of Nursing.

Lysobey is bucking more than tradition in a push to hire more registered nurses. He’s facing what some are calling the worst hiring crunch in more than three decades.

"Statewide what we’re hearing is that all long-term care facilities are having trouble finding staff — not just nurses, but any kind of staff," said Denise Gaither of the state Department of Social and Health Services.

Gaither expects the nursing shortage to be a major issue during the Legislature’s next session because the state pays the bill for about 70 percent of nursing home patients.

And nursing homes are lobbying for an increase in Medicaid payments so they can pay their employees more.

Relief can’t come soon enough for Pearl Barnes, who closed a wing in her Redmond nursing home, Cascade Vista, because she doesn’t have the staff to keep it open.

"Cascade is licensed for 139 (patients), and I’m now running 120," she said recently.

Barnes, who also owns Evergreen Vista in Kirkland, said the hiring crunch is the worst she can recall in 33 years in the business.

Although Barnes acted voluntarily in curtailing admissions, the state imposed a ban on new admissions at Eastside Medical and Rehabilitation in Bellevue because of problems attributed to a severe shortage of nursing assistants.

"We don’t have a nursing home in the state that doesn’t have a (hiring) problem," said Karen Tynes of the Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

on Monday, July 14, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mini heat wave moving into Snohomish County

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, warning of temperatures climbing to mid-80s or low 90s Tuesday and Wednesday.

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members Doug Symonds and Alysia Obina on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How to grow for show: 10 tips for prize-winning dahlias

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members share how they tend to their gardens for the best blooms.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

State Attorney General Nick Brown's office posted a release announcing $720 million in nationwide settlements with eight drugmakers that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. The state could receive more than $16 million, the release said. (Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)
Snohomish County to receive portion of latest $16M opioid settlement

While the amount of money is still unknown, funding plans are already in place to help with drug abuse prevention, treatment and education.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.