Southside Hospital Hires a Nurse a Day for 90 Days

BAY SHORE - Southside Hospital recently completed an aggressive marketing recruitment and hiring initiative to hire 90 registered nurses in 90 days. Over that three-month period, the hospital received 629 applications and interviewed 455 prospective nurses.

Southside Hospital's successful 90 Nurses in 90 Days campaign brought in Marie Lemke, RN right, shown here with Southside veteran Julie Vincent, RN.

The 90 in 90 Program now allows the hospital to rely more on its own nursing staff to deliver high-quality care to its patients, as opposed to contracting with temporary agency nurses. With the additional nurses, Southside now has 717 RNs on staff.

“It’s no secret that the nursing shortage has affected a great many hospitals,” said Michael Nolan, president and CEO of Southside Hospital. Infusing the Southside culture with qualified RNs who are now part of its staff enhances the quality of care, he said.

“The 90 in 90 Program was not a quick fix,” Mr. Nolan said. “It was something we did to strategically solidify the hospital for the long term. We believe once nurses join us, they will take advantage of a wide variety of educational programs we offer through the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System that will help them grow in their careers and improve care at the bedside. The institution, employee and the patient will all benefit from this approach – part of a ongoing effort at Southside to invest in nursing care,” he said

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