Experts offer several theories. No matter the reason for the shortage, the need for more nurses in Florida is indisputable. The patient pool, like the state's population as a whole, continues to increase. A Florida Hospital Association study commissioned last year said nearly 40 percent of hospitals consider the nursing shortage severe in critical care wards while 20 percent used the word severe to describe the shortage of bedside and surgical nurses. Doucette said Citrus Memorial hasn't experienced a significant problem.
Citrus also offers scholarships to employees and even non-employees who wish to become nurses.
Still, part of Doucette's job is to look ahead. Citrus Memorial will always need nurses, particularly when the planned adult heart program opens. A lot of our nurses are going to want to get special training for heart, which will leave staff positions open. Citrus Memorial hopes to recruit 20 nurses from the Philippines, where the supply of trained nurses is greater than the demand, Doucette said. The nurses will have bachelor's degrees, excellent language skills and trained using the same curriculum that U.S. nursing programs use.