A new generation of nurses enter medical field

Little Rock, Arkansas – A new generation of nurses will walk into the medical field hoping to fill those empty spots this week.

“We know the severity of the situation we are walking into,” said UALR nursing student Brittney Harding.

Harding and her classmate Lauren Klempel started classes in the middle of the pandemic. “That was a different feeling,” said Harding.

The image of their dream job suddenly changed. “Hearing these nurses say we’re so tired and we’re so understaffed and we’re having all these issues, it’s hard to hear that,” said Klempel.

According to Klempel, many rethought their degree plan but that wasn’t the case for her and her classmate Brittney. “It drives you even more,” said Harding. They say Nursing isn’t just about caring for patients but their fellow coworkers too, they said.

“You have to have that want to help,” said Klempel.

The graduating students say they’re hoping at the very least they can be an extra set of hands and help ease some of the burdens. “It’s like you’re going into battled every day and you have to be able to trust and lean on the people around you,” said Klempel.

According to UAMS, the hospital is still experiencing shortages, down about 200 people.