Nurses Needed, Humor Helps

Dan Powell, director of clinical nursing at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, shares jokes and stories about nursing in a rural hospital at the “Comedy: The Ultimate Medicine” event.

Nurses Needed, Humor Helps

Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial today helped shine a spotlight on a career in nursing – especially nursing in underserved, rural communities – by sharing a stage with stand-up comedians and Area Health Education Center for Western Michigan in Grand Rapids.

“Nurses have an immediate impact on people, and in rural communities with health care shortages, nurses can make a real difference in the health of our communities,” said Dan Powell, director of clinical nursing at Gerber Memorial.“Nurses don’t just heal – we also share a deep sense of empathy with our patients and...

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...do our best to look ahead so we can anticipate their health needs. And on most days, humor helps nurses and patients get through challenges together. Nursing is a truly awesome job, and we’re thrilled to help share this message.”

Powell was part of the “Comedy: The Ultimate Medicine” fundraiser organized by AHEC, with proceeds going toward AHEC’s Healthcare and Human Services Pipeline Program for disadvantaged and under-represented high school students interested in allied health fields. Gerber Memorial co-sponsored the event, which featured stand-up comics Tim Cusack, Dave Dyer, Joe Anderson and others.

“We are grateful to all our healthcare partners and sponsors, such as Gerber Memorial, for stepping up and showcasing careers in healthcare that can improve the well-being of so many local communities,” said Lisa Brennan, AHEC spokesperson. “We’re glad we can share a laugh while shining a spotlight on the need for frontline providers in coming years. We believe healthcare is a growing field that will continue to see greater demand and we encourage young people to consider working in the health arena.”

America’s 3 million nurses make up the largest segment of the nation’s health-care workforce, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Today, nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.2 million vacancies will emerge for registered nurses between 2014 and 2022.

​By 2025, the shortfall is expected to be more than twice as large as any nurse shortage experienced since the mid-1960s.