There may be some vacancies to fill, but a nursing shortage nationwide has not affected Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital very much, said hospital assistant administrator Arthur Evans.

Evans said the hospital is looking to fill eight registered nursing vacancies, but that the treatment at the hospital has not been affected by the nursing shortage.

Evans said that the hospital has a fair number of nurses from Demopolis and areas nearby Demopolis.

Evans said that there is also a greater demand for nurses because of a population that is "continuing to age," and that the demand would "probably increase."

Steve Robinson, director of the nursing school at the University of Alabama, said that during the shortage, the nursing school has seen an increase in enrollment.

Robinson said there are a number of factors that contributed to the increase in enrolment.

Robinson said that increases in nursing salaries are one reason why more young people are being drawn to the nursing profession.

Another is the higher demand for nurses nationwide.

Then, said Robinson, there was Sept. 11.