Mississippi News

Inside a Mississippi hospital hard-hit by nursing shortage

Published

3 years ago

February 22, 2022

Inside a Mississippi hospital hard-hit by nursing shortage

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
February 22, 2022

Mississippi hospitals have about 3,000 total nursing vacancies — equivalent to one-fifth of the state’s entire nursing workforce — according to a recent survey from the Mississippi Hospital Association.

Health care workers, especially nurses, have left the state during the pandemic to better paying jobs with temp companies or hospitals outside of Mississippi. As a result of the shortage and the omicron variant surge, hospitals in the state have been forced to cut capacities by closing beds.

Singing River Health System’s three Gulf Coast hospitals currently have more than 200 nursing vacancies, 50 of which are at Ocean Springs Hospital. The challenges the hospital system faces were highlighted in The New York Times’ Feb. 18 episode of The Daily.

In this photo gallery, Mississippi Today went inside the walls of Ocean Springs Hospital to follow a day in the life of the health care workers and patients there.

Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs checks Hazel Padgett’s heartbeat at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems.
A hospital bed is placed in front of a wall with a quote from one of Louis Armstrong’s songs at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Medical lab scientist Rachael Ward tests blood samples at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
An encouraging sign is in place inside of the laboratory at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Medical lab scientist Rachael Ward tests blood samples at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Covid-19 tests are in place at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Medical technologist Tori Hobby takes a look at specimen collected from patients at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
A balloon floats outside of a Covid-19 patient’s room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
A monitor attached to a ventilator for a Covid-19 patient can be seen at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurses Cyndy O’Brien, left and Joyce Blankenship discuss nurses salaries while on their break at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Used head gear rests on a cabinet inside of the emergency room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Natalie Shepherd, a surgical tech student, takes a break from her shift at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Stethoscopes are in place for the medical staff at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Phlebotomist Shanyce Gaither prepares to collect blood samples from a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs prepares to see a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Damon Walker, a dialysis patient, prays while in his room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Patient care assistant Keshia Porter brings Damon Walker, a dialysis patient, to his room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Patient care assistant Keshia Porter brings Damon Walker, a dialysis patient, to his room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Nurses prepare to gather medications for patients at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurse Haley Gibbs looks at a patient’s information during her shift at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurses Haley Gibbs, left, and Dominic Villa look at a patient’s chart during their shifts at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs takes a call while at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs talks with Hazel Padgett, a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs combs Hazel Padgett’s hair after checking her vitals at Ocean Springs Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs talks with Hazel Padgett, a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs checks Hazel Padgett’s vitals at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems.
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs checks Hazel Padgett’s heartbeat at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems.
Registered nurses Jenna Taylor, left, and Allie Black, take a look at a patient’s information at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Registered nurse Dominic Villa looks at a patient’s chart during his shift at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related Topics:Health Care Ocean Springs

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Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: December 20-22

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www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2024-12-20 12:03:00

SUMMARY: This weekend (December 20-22), Mississippi offers a variety of festive events. In Jackson, enjoy Food Truck Friday, candlelight concerts, a Grinch movie screening, and Journey to the North Pole. In Ridgeland, experience Merry Bingo, Christmas on the Green, and Fleet Feet Coffee Run. Vicksburg hosts Rock the Halls, while Natchez offers a European Christmas Shopping Village. Other activities include Santa scuba diving at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, and Magic of Lights in Brandon. Hattiesburg features Lights of the Wild and Teddy Bear Tea with Santa. Numerous holiday events are available across the state.

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The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: December 20-22 appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Mississippi News

Attorneys seek protective order in Jackson bribery case

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4 days ago

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www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2024-12-19 14:36:00

SUMMARY: Prosecutors in Jackson are seeking a protective order to prevent the release of sensitive information in a bribery case involving Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, and City Councilman Aaron Banks. The motion aims to protect personal, financial, and grand jury information, fearing it could impair investigations and fair trial rights. The three officials face charges related to a bribery scheme involving $80,000 in bribes for approving a real estate development project. Other individuals, including former City Councilwoman Angelique Lee and Sherik Marve Smith, are also implicated, with Smith pleading guilty to conspiracy.

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The post Attorneys seek protective order in Jackson bribery case appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Mississippi News

Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse

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2 weeks ago

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Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – MICHAEL R. SISAK and MARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press – 2024-12-10 14:27:00

SUMMARY: Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Mangione, who expressed disdain for corporate greed and the health insurance industry, was found with a gun matching the murder weapon and fraudulent IDs. He initially gave false identification but was recognized at a McDonald’s. Mangione, who wrote a three-page document expressing anti-corporate sentiments, is being extradited to New York. His family, shocked by his arrest, expressed condolences to Thompson’s family. Mangione had no prior criminal complaints but had a history of severe back pain.

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The post Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse appeared first on www.wjtv.com