Confluence Health Faces Staff Shortage

Confluence Health has about 500 open positions with the healthcare provider usually averaging 250 openings. At full staffing, the healthcare provider typically employs 1,000-1,050 nurses and right now there is currently 175 openings for nurse positions.

"Some of the positions are in our ICU (Intensive Care Unit), some in our medical floors, some are in our operating room," said Dr. Peter Rutherford, CEO. "They're throughout the organization. There has been a relative shortage of nurses even prior to the pandemic."

According to Dr. Rutherford, hospitals statewide have been grappling with the shortage of nurses, nursing assistants and medical assistants. Confluence has 50 certified nursing assistant openings and 150 medical assistant openings.

Confluence employs about 4,000 people in North Central Washington.