Washoe Medical Center said last week it will hire more than 30 fulltime registered nurses this month and is on track to hire more than 300 during its fiscal year which ends June 30.
The Reno-based four-hospital system said it hired 320 nurses during the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2004, and invested some $4 million in the recruitment, retention and professional development of nurses.
Ron Laxton, chief nursing officer, noted that the supply of nurses remains tight.
Nevada ranks 48th in the nation in registered nurses per capita.
Among the recruitment and retention tools used by Washoe Medical Center are mentoring programs for students at the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno, career fairs at middle schools and high schools and bonuses paid to staff members who refer nurses.
