INDIANAPOLIS — Hospitals across the nation continue to face a shortage of nurses. It means other nurses have to fill the gaps throughout the day.
On Tuesday, volunteers came together at Western Governors University of Indiana to show appreciation for night shift nurses across the state.
About a dozen student nurses spent the morning making nurse appreciation kits which they say will go a long way.
'It's hard getting up at night and being focused and saving lives every day, and this is something, a nice way to just say thanks," said Samantha Conor-Mattes.
Conor-Mattes is a 21-year paramedic at Eskenazi Health and one of the nurses who volunteered her time to create care packages filled with mints, lip balm, pens and sleep masks.
Each kit will serve 10-15 nurses at hospitals across Indiana. This is the 11th year WGU has honored the nurses.
"This is a way to recognize those individuals still at the bedside making that difference for that vulnerable patient when they come in," said Lisa Wagner, WGU's state director of prelicensure nursing.
Right now, there are more than 4,000 open nursing jobs across Indiana. Experts believe that number will climb in the coming years.
Until those positions are filled, these volunteers are showing appreciation for nurses working long overnight hours while hope to help get more nurses in the field.