Cincinnati study: Local nursing shortage eases

A new Health Council of Greater Cincinnati report found that the vacancy rate for nurses in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky dropped dramatically at the end of 2008 (Source: “Local nursing shortage eases,” Cincinnati Enquirer, April 20, 2009).

The HCGC report (pdf, 32 pages) found a 5.5 percent vacancy rate at year’s end, compared to the 20 percent vacancy rate in 2003 and 7.3 percent rate in 2007. The vacancy rate for health-care positions fell from 6.3 percent in 2007 to 4.4 percent last year. The biggest shortages were among occupational therapists (16.7 percent) and physical therapists (13.5 percent).