Jerry Crottey

However , the forces driving this one are much different , says Jerry Crottey , president of the Tennessee Nurses Association.Crottey has been a nurse since 1977.

The average age of a practicing nurse is 45 , compared to 1975 when it was 22 , says Crottey.He says West Tennessee has been hit harder than the Nashville area.He says sign-on bonuses of $2 , 000 to $5 , 000 already are being offered in Memphis.

This has not been like any shortage we've ever seen.It's cutting so deeply because we're seeing a decline in nursing faculty and administration as well , Crottey says.