In particularly short supply are nurses specializing in critical care, and laboratory technicians. Responding to the shortage, Gritman has developed training programs to create its own specialists from existing staff with a program that invites high school students to study careers at the hospital. Creative benefit packages also are being developed. More than salaries, nurses cite lack of time off as a reason for leaving the profession, said Maureen Gray, Gritman s nursing director. Gritman is tailoring its incentive programs to address those time concerns.
Day care is one possible new benefit.
Palouse hospital administrators anticipate having to use more contract technicians and nurses in coming years, but say dramatic shortages projected for much of the nation shouldn t hit the area.