Grand Strand hospital hiring in tough economic times

By Thema Ponton
WBTW News 13 Reporter
Published: January 9, 2009

Friday’s unemployment numbers showed the national unemployment rate rose to 7.2% in December, and while South Carolina’s numbers won’t be out for another 2 1/2 weeks, the November numbers had South Carolina with 8.4% out of work.
 
But despite those national numbers, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Charles Briscoe, COO, said they are hiring.
   
Briscoe said unfortunately, people are going to get sick and they’ll need people to take care of them and Grand Strand Regional can use qualified people.

“If there are folks that are in between jobs or just recently lost a job that you know might be considering going back to school, on a different career path, healthcare is there for us, you know be it nursing school or radiology schools.“

ICU nurse, Heidi Passwaters said after three days on the job at Grand Strand, it’s been high stress, but also very rewarding.

And in her short time, she says learning in the key to career longevity.

“Keep up your education and everything is changing, and the technology and just keeping up and taking more classes and learning more, as far as keeping job security, that is one of the major things, the more you know and the more valuable you are.“ Passwaters said.

Briscoe adds, while you won’t become a millionaire in the healthcare profession, there are flexible hours and solid personal healthcare coverage.

“It can add up, depending on the shifts your working and the hours you put into it, it can be a very good career, very long term career for somebody.“

But Passwaters cautions going into such an intensive career solely for economic reasons.  “It’s a lot of school and it’s a lot of hard work and boards for it to find out it’s not what you want to do so really getting into it and seeing if that’s where your passion is, because that’s the reason to be a nurse.” said Passwaters.

Briscoe said if you’re out there and are willing to put in the work that’s required, the healthcare profession is looking for you.  “The investment is there, and the jobs are always going to be there in health care because the people we take care of need us whether it’s good times or bad times in the economy, unfortunately people get sick and need us here as an industry are we’re here and we’ve got to have the people to take care of them.“ said Briscoe.

Dr. Marilyn Fore at Horry Georgetown Technical College also told News13 in addition to the allied health field, students are getting placed in jobs in accounting and information technology.

You can find out more information about jobs at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center on their website at http://www.grandstrandmed.com and you can find out more about classes at Horry Georgetown Technical College on their wesbite at http://www.hgtc.edu.