June 12, 2006 2:13 PM

Seeking nurses, schools move into hospitals
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 2:13 PM

Yes, Virginia, there is a nursing shortage.

And rather than sit around and wait till the healthcare industry gets so sick it can't recover, some area hospitals are taking matters into their own hands:

Lahey [Clinic] is among a host of Massachusetts hospitals responding to nursing shortages by making it easier and cheaper for lower-level employees to get nurse training and move up the ladder.

The hospital last year set up a satellite classroom and training simulator lab on the Lahey campus where up to 15 Lahey employees at a time can get instruction toward a Middlesex Community College associate's degree in nursing.