Baldwin closes for multiple nights

Ariel Schwartz Assistant News Editor

In the past month, Vassar students have received two e-mails stating that nurses would not be available at Baldwin Health Services on Saturday nights. According to Anne Dadarria, the head of Vassar’s nursing staff, this is the result of a nationwide shortage of nurses.
“This is not a new thing, but it has hit us the hardest this year,” said Dadarria. “It is especially hard to fill the night and weekend shifts.”

Vassar Student Association Secretary Laureen Cantwell ’06 noted that, “This particular [that] Baldwin is experiencing is only encouraging the already widespread distrust of…Vassar’s health services.”

One of the major reasons for the nursing shortage in the state and on Vassar’s campus is the higher average age of nurses. “Less young women are going into nursing in general, and there are less nursing schools and less faculty,” said Dadarria.

She noted that it is also hard for colleges to compete with the high bonuses and salaries offered at hospitals, despite the perks offered on a campus. “We have a pleasant place to work, a generous benefit package, tuition benefits and summers off, but we can’t offer a competitive salary,” she said.

Cantwell said, “I don’t find it heartening that again we find the campus in something of a wage war, though I understand that, to an extent, not everyone can be pleased at all times.”
The College began an advertising campaign last spring to hire new nurses. The open nursing positions were advertised at other hospitals and colleges. Five nurses were hired for per-diem work as a result of the campaign, which means that they have other jobs but are willing to fill in at Vassar when necessary. Two of the nurses hired have quit. Currently, seven out of the nine nursing positions are filled.

“Closing Baldwin at night is not a discussion, and we’re still trying to fill shifts,” said Dadarria. She pointed out that many health centers at other colleges are not open at all during the night, as they are also struggling with the nursing shortage. “That is not going to happen here,” she said.

Dadarria noted that even when nurses are not available at Baldwin, there are always on-call psychological counselors, Emergency Medical Technicians, and medical staff; there is always someone in the Baldwin building in case of emergency.