East Adams Rural Healthcare: Nursing positions filling up

RITZVILLE —It’s been a while, but East Adams Rural Healthcare is about to be fully staffed with nurses.

“We’ve had nursing positions open for a significant amount of time,” Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Pepperd said at Tuesday’s Hospital Board meeting. “We’re talking 18 months to two years.”

In her written report to the board, Pepperd says she hired three new nurses, including a full-time day nurse, a full-time night nurse and a part-time day nurse.

She also wrote that she had one more interview to do for a per diem nurse.

On the night of the meeting, however, Pepperd told the board that she was ready to make an offer for that position and that the staff would then be full at last.

Per diem nurses work as needed and do not have a set schedule. Pepperd said she had been looking to add a second per diem nurse.

“I will have at least two per diem nurses who can work ER for us,” Pepperd said. “That is significant. So I’m excited. We are looking good right now.”