Since the pandemic began in 2020 there's been more attention paid by the public to the situations nurses are in. Nurses were amongst those who have been and still are many cases on the frontlines dealing with covid-19 patients. A recent study by the research firm WalletHub examined 21 different criteria that affect the nursing profession. South Carolina ranked 43rd overall out of the 50 states. The study says our state ranked below average in multiple categories such as monthly average starting salary, open nursing jobs, average annual salary and quality of nursing home facilities. Many of the states top nurses have left the state to become travel nurses, as that option seems to be more appealing. I have close knowledge to this situation, as a good friend of mine has been doing the travel nursing thing in various states. Opting for the better conditions and pay that the travel option provides, as oppose to staying here in the state. If an effort was made to improve conditions in the state, it would in theory (and probably practicality) keep more of the state's top nurses in state. Should South Carolina make an effort to improve conditions for nurses here?
