3 years ago
Tampa, Florida - There may not be enough nurses to take care of the baby boom generation. One national report has the nursing shortage growing to one million by 2020.
More than half of the nursing population will have retired by then. The average age today for a nurse is nearly 47. One Bay area school has found a way to help cure the problem.
Tampa Bay Tech has a Licensed Practical Nurse program for high school students. At a patient's bedside is where Melissa McCoy wants to be, she hopes to become a surgeon one day.
- Melissa McCoy, 11th grader at TampaBay Tech:
- “I'm one of those people that like to stay up late at night watching TLC reruns life stories in the ER. I love the medical field. My mom is a nurse so going to work with her made me want to do it.”
The 16-year-old is one of 24 hand selected students getting a jump start on their medical careers through Tampa Bay Tech's Licensed Practical Nurse program. The LPN program is one step short of being an RN.
- Nancy Angard, RN at University Community Hospital:
- “Which means she can take a lot of the slack RN normally do like pass medication and in patient care. ”
Tampa Bay Tech students get their hands-on experience at University Community Hospital.
- Usman Khan, 11th grade:
- “In a class you work with a mannequin or a book you don't have someone to take into consideration their feelings that's what they don't have in the classroom.”
UCH is seeing a 9 percent nursing shortage similar to state and national figures.
- Angard:
- “We see them as students, they've seen us, evaluated us. We've evaluated them, it's a natural fit. We find when we get them right out of school they tend to stay with us and have their whole career here. ”
Besides hospitals, nursing schools are seeing a shortage too - not enough faculty or class space. Last year more than 41-thousand qualified nursing students were turned away.
Peggy Fasano helped start the LPN program at Tampa Bay Tech.
- Peggy Fasano, Program Director:
- “We're trying to recruit market our profession... we're very proud of make it one people want to join be a part of.”
When Melissa graduates high school her LPN certification will earn her up to $17 an hour but money isn't the only reason she's chosen the medical field.
- Melissa:
- “ When I go into a patient's room they say thank you after I leave I made somebody happy for 5 minutes.”
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