OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) – A shortage of nurses has taken a toll on hospitals across the country, and the Tri-State has been no exception.

Data shows more than 100,000 nurses across the country left the workforce during the pandemic and hospitals haven’t recovered since.

At Owensboro Health, registered nurses explained how there is and has been a shortage for years, but at this point they have stabilized.

Meaning the number of nurse vacancies this year is about the same as it was last year.

Jony Sims is the Chief Nursing Officer at Owensboro Health, and she says there’s several reasons for the nursing shortage.

An aging population of patients means increased demand for healthcare, and after the pandemic, nurses who felt overworked and left the field, never re-entered.

Sims explains that this shortage effects everyone.

“We operate based on the number of nurses we have available to take care of patients, that may slow down a transfer from another facility,” Sims said. “It may not happen right away because we may need to discharge a patient before we bring another patient over.”

To help fix this nursing shortage in Owensboro, the regional hospital is hosting an open house Thursday, February 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s meant for nursing students to get an idea of what jobs are available to them now and after they graduate.

There is no need to register.

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