Kent launches nurse recruitment drive, union cites shortages

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 3/7/19

By JOHN HOWELL Kent Hospital is opening its doors to nurses on Tuesday and on the Tuesdays that follow. The invite appearing in advertisements in this paper as well as in other media is part of drive to recruit between 45 and 50 nurses, Judith Thorpe,

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Kent launches nurse recruitment drive, union cites shortages

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Kent Hospital is opening its doors to nurses on Tuesday and on the Tuesdays that follow.

The invite appearing in advertisements in this paper as well as in other media is part of drive to recruit between 45 and 50 nurses, Judith Thorpe, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer for Kent Hospital, said in an interview Monday.

Thorpe said many of the 600 nurses at Kent are approaching retirement age. In addition, she said the hospital employs “traveler nurses” who after filling a 13-week contract leave the hospital thereby creating openings.

She said nurses are needed in a number of specialty areas such as operating rooms, the intensive care unit and emergency department.

Thorpe said there are opportunities for nurses looking to expand their careers and work in an environment with other professionals as well as for recent nursing graduates. She didn’t provide numbers, but said pay rates are “comparable to greater Rhode Island.”

Kent will host walk-in interview days every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Doctors’ Auditorium B. There will be an opportunity to meet with recruiters, participate in on-the-spot interviews, and learn much more about the nursing positions at Kent.

“Our nurses are on the front line of the care we provide to patients and families. Kent Hospital is an exciting place to work and is constantly focused on high quality patient care and nursing excellence. As we look to grow our community of experienced nurses, we look forward to meeting and hiring an exceptional array of talented nurse professionals,” Thorpe said in a statement.

Trish Criner, RN-BC,MSN, and president of Local 5008 of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals, called the shortage of nurses at Kent “beyond, beyond.” She said there are situations where a single nurse is caring for eight patients on a night shift.

Criner, who has worked at Kent since 1996, said the hospital is having difficulty retaining nurses and there is dissatisfaction over the elimination of 12 hour shifts which were replaced with eight hour shifts five days a week.

She credited Thorpe with going “the extra mile” to help deal with the situation, but she added that hospital administrators also need to listen to the union and its members.

For additional information on current job openings, please visit carenewengland.org/nursing.

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