Northern begins nursing director search

Montana State University-Northern has started its search for a new director for its nursing program.

“We want to have the person in place for the fall,” said Jim Potter, director of university relations. “(The posting) will run until it is filled.”

Potter said Monday there is no deadline for when the will have to choose a new director, but ideally, they would be installed into the position by August.

Arlys Williams, a professor in Northern’s nursing department, was named interim nursing director after Lisa O’Neil resigned in January. Once someone is hired to take Williams’ temporary position, she will go back to teaching, according to a press release from the university.

Williams said she is ineligible to apply to the position because she does not have a doctorate.

O’Neil resigned after a three-week administrative leave. She is now employed at Northern Montana Hospital.

“This search has a high priority for Northern and needs to be filled expeditiously,” said William Rugg, provost of MSU-N. “The nursing program is one of our most popular programs and this new person will help set the direction that will advance our nursing program to the next level.”

Rugg continues to say in the press release that difficulties arise in finding someone qualified to take the position because someone with high enough credentials to take the position can get hired at a hospital for a higher salary. This is a reoccuring issue with the search.

O’Neil’s yearly salary by the time she left her position was $87,659.

“These credentials can command salaries that make it very difficult for Northern to match,” Rugg said in the release.

To be eligible for the position, candidates must have a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in nursing if the doctorate is not in nursing.