A shortage of nurses due in part to the pandemic continues to plague the medical field, but Pikeville Medical Center hopes it has a solution.
Hospital representatives have been traveling to local high schools to talk with students about a career in health care
Recruiters talked with juniors and seniors at Pikeville High School on Tuesday. Senior Sophia Hackney said she is considering a career in the medical field.
"I guess it is also stable, like all the presentations we have been given from PMC. It's a reliable job and you get to make a difference," she said.
Recruiter Christian Hagy said the shortage doesn't just impact the hospital, but the surrounding community as well.
"The nursing shortage not only impacts us at the hospital but it impacts the people of the area that we provide services to," Hagy said. "If we don't have enough nurses, we can't provide all the services these people need, so our goal is to fill these voids that we have."
He said nursing is one of their highest response categories during the presentation to high school students.
"We are hoping that doing these will eventually help us solve this nursing shortage," Hagy said.
Pikeville senior Kylie Hall said nursing is something that will always be in demand.
"Doctors are like teachers. You are always going to need them," she said. "Nurses you are always going to need and I think it takes a certain type of person to do this job," said Hall, who is already planning a career in the medical field.
One thing that is stressed to students during these presentations is that a career in the medical field doesn't necessarily mean becoming a nurse or a doctor
"There's so much more in health care. You can pursue business degrees, attorney. You can do anything you want at hospitals. There are many different jobs for everybody," Hagy said.
Be it medical-related or non-medical related, Hagy said all hospital employees come together to form a big picture that is helping provide medical services for the people of the region.
Juniors and seniors in Pike, Floyd, Johnson and Letcher Counties have all heard the presentation from Pikeville Medical Center.