Mississippi News
Inside a Mississippi hospital hard-hit by nursing shortage
Inside a Mississippi hospital hard-hit by nursing shortage
Mississippi hospitals have about 3,000 total nursing vacancies — equivalent to one-fifth of the state’s entire nursing workforce — according to a recent survey from the Mississippi Hospital Association.
Health care workers, especially nurses, have left the state during the pandemic to better paying jobs with temp companies or hospitals outside of Mississippi. As a result of the shortage and the omicron variant surge, hospitals in the state have been forced to cut capacities by closing beds.
Singing River Health System’s three Gulf Coast hospitals currently have more than 200 nursing vacancies, 50 of which are at Ocean Springs Hospital. The challenges the hospital system faces were highlighted in The New York Times’ Feb. 18 episode of The Daily.
In this photo gallery, Mississippi Today went inside the walls of Ocean Springs Hospital to follow a day in the life of the health care workers and patients there.
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Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs checks Hazel Padgett’s heartbeat at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems. -
A hospital bed is placed in front of a wall with a quote from one of Louis Armstrong’s songs at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Medical lab scientist Rachael Ward tests blood samples at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
An encouraging sign is in place inside of the laboratory at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Medical lab scientist Rachael Ward tests blood samples at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Covid-19 tests are in place at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Medical technologist Tori Hobby takes a look at specimen collected from patients at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
A balloon floats outside of a Covid-19 patient’s room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
A monitor attached to a ventilator for a Covid-19 patient can be seen at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurses Cyndy O’Brien, left and Joyce Blankenship discuss nurses salaries while on their break at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Used head gear rests on a cabinet inside of the emergency room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Natalie Shepherd, a surgical tech student, takes a break from her shift at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Stethoscopes are in place for the medical staff at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Phlebotomist Shanyce Gaither prepares to collect blood samples from a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs prepares to see a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Damon Walker, a dialysis patient, prays while in his room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Patient care assistant Keshia Porter brings Damon Walker, a dialysis patient, to his room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Patient care assistant Keshia Porter brings Damon Walker, a dialysis patient, to his room at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Nurses prepare to gather medications for patients at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurse Haley Gibbs looks at a patient’s information during her shift at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurses Haley Gibbs, left, and Dominic Villa look at a patient’s chart during their shifts at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs takes a call while at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs talks with Hazel Padgett, a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs combs Hazel Padgett’s hair after checking her vitals at Ocean Springs Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs talks with Hazel Padgett, a patient at Ocean Springs Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs checks Hazel Padgett’s vitals at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems. -
Registered nurse Lauren Gibbs checks Hazel Padgett’s heartbeat at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Padgett was recently hospitalized due to lung problems. -
Registered nurses Jenna Taylor, left, and Allie Black, take a look at a patient’s information at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. -
Registered nurse Dominic Villa looks at a patient’s chart during his shift at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination believed to have acted alone, says Utah governor
SUMMARY: Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested for the targeted assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah. Authorities said Robinson had expressed opposition to Kirk’s views and indicated responsibility after the shooting. The attack occurred during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot once from a rooftop and later died in hospital. Engravings on bullets and chat messages helped link Robinson to the crime, which was captured on grim video. The killing sparked bipartisan condemnation amid rising political violence. President Trump announced Robinson’s arrest and plans to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The post Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination believed to have acted alone, says Utah governor appeared first on www.wjtv.com
SUMMARY: On the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, solemn ceremonies were held in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville to honor nearly 3,000 victims. Families shared personal remembrances, emphasizing ongoing grief and the importance of remembrance. Vice President JD Vance postponed his attendance to visit a recently assassinated activist’s family, adding tension to the day. President Trump spoke at the Pentagon, pledging never to forget and awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. The attacks’ global impact reshaped U.S. policy, leading to wars and extensive health care costs for victims. Efforts continue to finalize legal proceedings against the alleged plot mastermind.
The post Americans mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with emotional ceremonies appeared first on www.wcbi.com
SUMMARY: Charlie Kirk, conservative influencer and Turning Point USA founder, was fatally shot by a sniper during a speech at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. The shooter, believed to be a college-aged individual who fired from a rooftop, escaped after the attack. Authorities recovered a high-powered rifle and are reviewing video footage but have not identified the suspect. The shooting highlighted growing political violence in the U.S. and sparked bipartisan condemnation. Kirk, a Trump ally, was praised by political leaders, including Trump, who called him a “martyr for truth.” The university was closed and security heightened following the incident.
The post Hunt for Charlie Kirk assassin continues, high-powered rifle recovered appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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