TUPELO, Miss (WTVA) -- North Mississippi Medical Center is dealing with a healthcare worker shortage during the coronavirus pandemic.

Money is a motivator, according to some staff at North Mississippi Medical Center, but, they said, it isn’t the only one.
“We do have an RN shortage going on right now across the country, and that’s been going on now for some time,” NMMC Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President Donna Pritchard said.

She said keeping workers is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

“We’re seeing it even get worse as we’re seeing the pandemic strengthen.”

Pritchard explained the center is losing nurses that are traveling to other cities. They are signing short-term contracts to make more money.

“Hopefully they will be back when the pandemic ends,” Pritchard said.

She added they did hire some travel nurses, but it is very few because they don’t pay as much as centers in California, New York, and others.

On Indeed.com, it says the average salary for a registered nurse in Mississippi is $28.95 per hour.

Kim Warner is Vice President of Human Resources at North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS). She said new grad nurses with no experience start off at about $21.75

“One of the reasons to work here, one of many,” Warner said.

There is a virtual job fair coming up. It will be on January 28th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The link to register is here.

Registration ends on January 26.