Phoebe Hospital solving national nursing shortage using international solution

ALBANY, Ga. – The state of Georgia is expected to have 2200 less nurses than the number needed in 2030, according to Registerednursing.org.

The nursing shortage has even become a national issue and Evelyn Olenick, Chief Nursing Officer with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, says the national trends are “predominantly affecting Dougherty County.”

The hospital is taking a “very active and multilayered approach” by looking at local resources and even international solutions.

Phoebe’s partnered with local technical colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition from being a student to having a successful nursing career.

Olenick says the hospital works closely with these schools “to make certain that their curriculum is meeting our needs.”

In the past 3 years, Phoebe’s hired 317 nurses through these partnerships and the hospital is on track to increasing that number this year.

Conjointly, the hospital is looking overseas for help. This quarter the main Phoebe hospital in Albany hired 38 nurses through their international nursing program.

The nurses are mostly from the Philippines and Olenick says they “provide greater consistency” since the nurses are committed to the hospital for 3 years.

Olenick ensures that the international hires have proved successful for the hospital and she hopes the program grows.