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Show Wednesday, April 8, 2009 World&Hsktton Page 14 Hitting the books to combat recession CINCINNATI (AP) - Their fellow students call them "Mom and Pop." Both 40 years old, Lena Gambill and Bob Mitchell are among the first-year nursing students at Shavvnee State University, in the Ohio river city of Portsmouth nearly 100 miles southeast of here. In an Appalachian region that was already struggling with double-digit unemployment before the national recession hit, they both considered a nursing career their best bet for a secure future. "The reason I decided to do it is no matter where we go, no matter what happens economy-wise, this is an occupation I can count on and I can take with me," said Gambill, a mother of three who had been a full-time teachers aide. "There is always something you can do with nursing," agreed Mitchell, a former state prison guard. A field that has long seen staff shortages is getting another look from people who are out of work, fear they soon could be or need to replace a laid-off spouse's income. But there are barriers to overcome, from getting the needed education to meeting the profession's sometimes exhausting demands. "The most difficult thing has been budgeting between my family and schooling to get to my goal," said Gambill, estimating she spends 40 hours a week studying and doing clinical work in a two-year program to become a registered nurse. Industry experts say the recession is reducing nursing vacancy rates because more nurses are delaying retirement, moving from part-time to full-time status for the extra income, or coming back from retirement. But plenty of need remains, especially as the Baby Boom generation ages and requires more health care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected more than 1 million nursing openings over the 10year period ending in 2016. Among the benefits of becoming a nurse, besides employment security, is yearly pay that usually ranges in hospitals from around $50,000 into six figures, depending on experience and skills. Nursing offers flexible scheduling that can include three-day weeks (12-hour shifts) and weekends-only positions. And workplaces are as varied as physicians' offices, nursing homes and health-related corporate jobs. The bureau also projects strong job growth for some faster routes into health care. They include licensed practical nursing; the degree takes about a year to earn, and jobs usually pay about two-thirds what registered nurses earn. Growth also is projected for lower-paying jobs such as home care aides, which do not require college study. Universities and nursing schools have been scrambling to keep up with growing interest, but they face a shortage of qualified instructors — in most cases, nurses can earn much more working in a hospital than teaching. At Shawnee State, with about 200 nursing students, twice that number of qualified applicants get turned away each year, said Mattie Burton, who heads the nursing program. Of the first-year students, about 15 percent each year don't make it through a demanding combination of classes, clini- NURSING STUDENTS LENA Gambill, left, and Bob Mitchell, center, listen to a lecture in class.Tuesday at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio, AP photo demanding, and doesn't lend itself to a 9to-5 mentality. "It's 24-7," she said. "For anyone considering nursing, my best recommendation is to sit down and talk with a nurse, find out what are the positive aspects, and what are the challenging aspects," said Endres, adding that some places offer job shadowing for those thinking about the field. As for advancement, some employers will underwrite additional training and education for nurses who commit to stay. Gambill will pay for her two years of school with some $15,000 in education loans. Her husband's income as an ironworker disqualifies her from grants, she said. cal studies and work. "We have people who made straight A's coming out of high school who find it's too difficult," Burton said. She said nurses need good a background in sciences such as biology and chemistry and in mathematics. Some students are unprepared to see illness and pain up close on a regular basis. "They haven't had experience with sick people like that before and decide that's not what they want to do," Burton said. Debbe Endres, who heads human resources for the Cincinnati-based Health Alliance's five hospitals, said nurses must work well in teams, be respectful, and set high standards for themselves and for care. The job can be physically and emotionally Snowplow convoy saves a liver, life CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Chuck Forbes has battled liver disease for half of his 59 years. When the time finally came for a transplant, a blizzard blocked his route to the hospital - until a corps of snowplow drivers saved the day. Forbes was recovering after undergoing transplant surgery Sunday at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver. He and his wife, Ruth, made it there from their home in northwest Wyoming despite the storm that closed roads Saturday in the southeastern part of the state. "I hope those WYDOT (Wyoming Department of Transportation) guys know they performed a miracle," Ruth Forbes said. She said her husband had been on a transplant wait- The couple followed nearly on the bumper of a plow truck from Wheatland in whiteout conditions. Other trucks joined their caravan to plow a wider path. In Cheyenne, one plow led them through the city. South of the city, another snowplow driver got them to the state line. In all, the escort involved eight snowplows and covered some 80 miles. They made it to the hospital at about 9:30 p.m. Chuck Forbes underwent his transplant at 7 a.m. Sunday. "He is having a heck of a time getting out of the anesthesia, but they say that's normal because of all of the meds he's on," his wife said. "But the transplant went wonderfully." ing list for about a year when "we got a surprise call totally out of the blue at 7:30 on Saturday morning." They had already made it all the way to Wheatland, some 250 miles southeast of their home in Meeteetse, when they encountered a road-closing barrier Saturday afternoon. A bit panicked, Ruth Forbes called 911. "The operator said 'The road is closed, we've been forecasting this storm all week,'" she said. "Then she said 'Hang on, I'll get a patrolman to come talk to you.'" Trooper Chuck Bloom arrived, talked to the couple and then returned to his patrol car. "He came back to our car and said 'If you wait right here, thearea boss for WYDOT will be-right here,'" Ruth Forbes said. "In a matter of 10 minutes, we had a convoy of plow trucks." Speech: Further budget reductions 01 continued from page 1 I Student Jobs For more information, See USU Student Employment, TSC 106 or www.usu.edu/studemp SPEAKING I N F R O N T OF A CROWED in the Ballroom Monday afternoon, USU President Stan Albrecht addressed many issues, including budget reductions, health care and cwo plans that would decrease expenses for out-of-state students. BRIAN FRANCOM photo need to cut another $13 million beginning July 1, 2010. "The big number for us is the one that's hanging out there in 2010," he said. University Advancement Vice President Ross Peterson spoke shortly about USU's endowment. He said the goal of $200 million had been reached so readily that his office had revised their goal to $400 million by 2012. He said many private donors have come forward in recent months to offer support in hard times. The endowment is now 58 percent of the way to its new goal, he said. During the meeting Provost Raymond Coward answered questions about employee health insurance. Coward said last year's health claims exceeded premiums by 15 percent. He said the USU employee health plans would remain largely the same, though there will be a $1 increase for employees enrolled in the "blue" plan. Coward explained that Utah's legislature funds 30 percent of the USU budget, and state money covers USU s human resource salaries. As USU trims more from its budget in 2010, USU employees can expect to see more layoffs, Coward said. "There are no alternatives," he said, invoking the projected more than 27 percent cut in USU's budget through fiscal year 2011 if the economic slump continues. USU Vice President for Business and Finance Fred Hunsaker struck a positive note during the meeting. He said money will come back to USU in the future, and will be appropriated in different areas which can justify their existence with results. Hunsaker said employee compensation \v\\\ be funded in the coming budget. "Salaries and health benefits for employees will remain a priority," he said. Coward responded to questions about which critical university programs will be protected for fiscal year 2010. He said each college within the university is being asked to trim 5 percent from their individual programs. After review by a mixed committee and Albrecht, the final budget cuts for fiscal year 2010 will be available for the public to view on June 1, Coward said. "The premise is to minimize direct financial impact on students," Coward said. -butler.brendon@ginail.com oncampus jobs C160-06 Substitute Teacher 62.50 72.50 DOE C308-09 Barber/stylist boolhrent C240-06 4-h Volunteer Development Assistant $7.50 C226-09 Junction Worker 7.00 C368-07 Grader $8.00/hr C330-09 Botanist $10 - 12/hr C349-09 All-star Asst. Cheerleading Coach $8.50 w/ some benefits C429-96 Mowing $6.55/hr C483-00 Laboratory Assistant 10 -15 C397-06 Coordinator/database Manager 6.50 C360-09 Research Assistant negotiable C366-09 Integrated Pest Management Assistant $9-10 C037-09 Sibling Care Classroom Coordinator depends on experience C368-09 Water Quality Research Technician $8-10/hr C070-07 Cil Lab Programmer $12 C378-02 Accounting/finance Seminar Coordinator $8.00 per hour C441-08 Agricultural Research Coor- I ! dinator $10.00 C372-09 Field Camp Cook $500 S750/session DOE C447-01 Farm Laborer BOE C083-95 Teacher Assistant (regular & Substitute) $6.55 C112-02 Information Specialist 9.50/ hr C379-09 Saturday Museum Assistant $10.00 C330-06 Painter Laborer $8.50 to $12.00/hrDOE C381-09 Health & Safety Assislnat DOE C382-09 Field Technician $10 C540-08 Tutor For Math $8.00 C357-09 Reseach Technician $8/ hr C385-09 Graphic Design 12.50 C280-06 Water Conservation Internsalt Lake $11/hr+mileage C341-96 Moving Crew $8/hr C332-06 Grounds Laborer $8.00 $10.00 DOE C212-04 Police Dispatcher $6.85/hr C362-09 Cabinet And Construction Laborer $9.00 to $14.00 DOE C044-04 Statistics Tutor $8.00 C138-08 Warehouseman $8 • $9 DOE C391-09 Field Technician $9-12 per hour C389-09 Drywall Finisher $9.00 $12.00 BOE ! I ! C399-02 S I Leader Usu 1300 Sec 003 $7.50 C395-02 Si Leader For Chem 1210 002 8.00'hr C380-02 S I Leader Usu 1300 002 $8.00/hr C392-09 Sage-grouse Technician $1400/mon C123-94 Tsc Custodian $6.55/hr C395-09 SI Leader For Usu 1360 003 $8.00/hr C275-99 Research Assistant 9.00 C394-09 Laboratory Technician $8.00.'hour C456-08 S I Leader Chem 2300 001 8.00/hr. C491-90 Housekeeper 6.55 C390-09 Lab Assistant $10.00/hr C386-07 Cashier $6.55 C056-04 S I Leader Soc 1010 003 $8.00/hr. C188-04 S I Leader For Phys 1040 001 $8.00 per hour C192-04 Si Leader For Usu 1340 001 $8.00/hr C202-04 S I Leader Psy 1010 001 $8.00/hr C242-05 SI Leader For Pols 1100 001 $7.50 per hour C187-04 S I Leader NIs 1020 002 $8.007hr C184-04 SI Instructor Chem 1220 001 $8.00 per hour flow Renting for Fall / University Pines Y IS 1 V 400 N. ^00 E. _ S2600 tor School Year x 4 Private Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Cy Price Includes: ' & All Utilites Cable Wireless Internet Coin-Op Laundry Facility 454 N 400 E 435-752-1516 V<. ] |