Two Yakima Degree Programs Work to Meet the Demand, but Are Hampered by a Dearth of Nurses Willing to Go Into Teaching

Summary

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Nurses wanted. That's not a rumor, but a fact extrapolated from a statewide survey of 15,000 Washington businesses. That's particularly the case in King County, which accounts for 52 percent of the 5,160 registered-nurse vacancies statewide, said state Employment Security Department economic analyst Dave Wallace. Nursing topped the list of job vacancies there.

But even in Central Washington, the RN shortage registered third on the list of hot job prospects in the area encompassing Yakima, Kittitas and Klickitat counties, said Wallace. There were 101 vacancies for RNs. Next came cashiers, with 142 openings, and food preparation personnel with 115. There were 56 vacancies for nursing aides, which was sixth on the job-vacancy list.

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Two Yakima Degree Programs Work to Meet the Demand, but Are Hampered by a Dearth of Nurses Willing to Go Into Teaching

The demand is an ongoing trend, reflecting a burgeoning health- care industry, say local nursing-school and hospital officials.

"We run about a 10 percent vacancy rate for our nurses," said Stefanie Durand, human resources director at ...

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