"UI Hospitals and Clinics is a tertiary academic medical center with a diverse and complex patient population. In order to meet the needs of these patients we must have a diverse nursing staffing,' says Linda Everett, Ph.D., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Nursing Services and Patient Care. "For example, we have nurses providing care in the ICUs, ER, oncology, L&D, pediatrics both on the inpatient, and ambulatory clinical areas."

Nursing today includes varying degrees of education. Everett says there are three primary ways to become a registered nurse, diploma, associated degree (ADN), baccalaureate degree (BSN). "As a registered nurse you can provide for direct patient care such as at the bedside in the hospital, or seek additional education at the masters level and have a career in nursing education, administration or advanced practice."

UI Hospitals and Clinics was the first hospital in Iowa to receive the prestigious Magnet award in nursing. Everett says the Magnet Hospital Award is the only recognized national award for nursing practice. It is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center when a facility demonstrates through written documents and on-sight visit that they meet criteria that are considered excellent in the provision of nursing care. There are only 133 facilities in the world (two international sites). So UI Hospitals and Clinics is part of an elite group of facilities that have been recognized for have a premier nursing practice environment.

There was a national nursing shortage a year or so ago. The nursing profession has experienced cyclic "nursing shortages' over the past several decades. Everett says.Ê In Iowa, particularly at UI Hospitals and Clinics, we have been fortunate that we have been more successful in recruiting and retaining nursing staff to than many other parts of the country. For UI Hospitals and Clinics there have been many factors that have contributed to our success.

Certainly the Magnet Hospital Award has been one but other strategies such as flexible scheduling for our staff with what we call "work-life balance" has also been a major contributor to our success. About 92Ê percent of our staff nurses are female with young families or parents that they are taking care of or in some cases both. Time away from the hospital or clinic is important to them. We work closely with our staff to be as flexible as possible with their work schedules and still meet the needs of our patients.

Who should consider becoming a nurse? Everett says nursing is neither gender dependent nor age related. "Males and females are joining the nursing work force. We are seeing people in their 30s and 40s who are going to nursing school. If you enjoy working with other people and have a desire to contribute to the health and well being of others, you can find a very rewarding career in the nursing profession."

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Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care