Laid-off Cook County nurses shift into other jobs

Cook County has found other jobs for most of the nurses whose positions were cut at two of its public hospitals.

Cook County Health and Hospitals System spokesman Lucio Guerrero said Wednesday that 97 vacant nursing positions will be filled by nurses whose jobs were cut.

Most laid-off nurses now will work at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. Other nurses are going to the county's public health department or to the county jail hospital.

Cook County is eliminating 108 nursing jobs at Oak Forest Hospital in the south suburbs and Provident Hospital on Chicago's South Side as it reduces costly inpatient services.

The county still has 32 nursing vacancies. Guerrero says a few nurses have chosen not to fill a vacant position and are leaving the county health system.