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Board approves three jail hires; officials report persistent nurse shortage
Summary
The Lycoming County Prison Board approved three full‑time hires — a licensed practical nurse and two correctional officer relief positions — and prison officials told the board they remain short one nurse and are struggling to recruit LPN applicants.
The Lycoming County Prison Board approved three personnel actions presented by prison administration: Sonya Medina as a full‑time licensed practical nurse (LPN) at the jail; Sarah Wallach as a full‑time correctional officer relief; and Robert Geyer as a full‑time correctional officer relief.
A motion to accept the personnel items was made and seconded; the board approved the hires by voice vote. The motion and second were recorded in the meeting transcript but no roll‑call vote or numerical tally was provided.
Prison officials told the board they continue to have difficulty recruiting nursing staff. A prison official said the county remains short one nurse and described efforts with human resources to reach out to recent nursing graduates and current LPNs. “We just aren't getting any applications for that,” the official said, describing a highly competitive market and declining numbers in nursing programs.
Administrators said they are working on recruitment approaches and continue to hire for correctional officers as well. No additional incentives, new pay scales or specific new recruitment programs were listed in the meeting materials provided at the meeting.
