By Vivian Shipe
KNOXVILLE, TN —The signs are everywhere: Help wanted: Nurses Needed.
It’s a cry for help being heard across the nation. According to the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing, almost one million nurses are planning to exit the medical field by 2027.
That’s only four years from now.
The reasons vary, among them, bullying, lack of respect, understaffed, stressful work conditions and lack of leadership.
The Upsilon Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi nursing sorority, has been working to recruit and provide scholarships for nurses for almost 4 decades. Their annual fundraiser, a Christmas luncheon, was held on December 3rd and over 13,000 was raised to provide scholarships
The problem started long before COVID-19 and in the pandemic years, over 100,000 have already left. Now the work must begin to fill the huge gap that is coming. Chi Eta Phi is already on the job.
During the luncheon, now in its 36th year, the chapter recognized several outstanding citizens for their efforts in service to the community.
Recognized for their servant leadership and given special recognition were nurses Melinda Cookie Holt and Vickie Johnson. Tanisha Fitzgerald Baker received the 2023 Humanitarian Award and Upsilon Chi, the Knoxville chapter of the nursing sorority, founded in 1975 , recognized one of their own for her outstanding service and sacrifice crowning Ms. Carolyn Tabors , Soror of the Year.
The rallying call to those in attendance: we need nurses, we need committed nurses. We also need those who are willing to reach back and help provide funds .
It’s all about giving back.
There will come a time in everyone’s life when they , or someone they know or love, will need a nurse.
Now is the time to make sure there will be a nurse available to answer that call when it comes.
