Displaced autoworkers offered nursing education

What can an auto industry worker do when they lose their job? Well, if they're in Michigan, one option is to become a nurse. Hoping to slow the effects of the state's mushrooming nursing shortage, some of the state's universities and hospitals are working together to create accelerated nursing education programs. The shortage is already large and expected to grow worse over the next few years. State officials are expecting Michigan to be short 7,000 nurses by 2010, according to Jeanette Kelmczak, the state's chief nursing executive.

To stem this tide, health organizations are making aggressive moves, with some programs turning former autoworkers into nurses in as little as one year. And with major layoffs happening in the auto industry, demand for the programs is substantial. For example, about 250 people attended a recent session held by Michigan State University and Beaumont hospitals explaining its accelerated nursing program for workers with bachelor's degrees.

To find out more about the displaced worker nursing program:
- read this item from The Niles Daily Star

Related Article:
Study: Nursing shortage gap closing. Report

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