One day after the announced closing of Northside Hospital, nurses are joined by elected leaders at a news conference.

Standing in front of the hospital where so many have worked for so long, nurses are critical of management for giving up on Northside Hospital instead of following through on pledges to grow and improve the hospital to attract more patients.

Instead, they decreased services and pulled the plug.

"What can we do to keep them open? Who would want to buy us and invest in us, I don't know, but I wish we had the time to do it," said Marcia Schiffauer, a long-time Northside nurse. 

Congressman Tim Ryan said the task now is to make sure the hospital makes good on severance and job assistance for the more than 400 workers.

"The workers need to be taken care of," said Congressman Ryan. 

The Ohio Nurses Association said there is a nurse shortage, but these nurses are losing years of seniority. 

"They've lost a big chunk of their life right now, but I  think they'll find other work,  I'm confident they will," said Bob Cousins of the ONA. 

Even now, a jobs fair for nurses is held at the Canfield Health Care Center, with hiring bonuses of up to $2,000. 

"We are really hopeful, we have a fantastic relationship with Northside hospital and we're really hopeful that some of their nurses will come down and interview with us," said Sarah Lee with Canfield Health Care Center. 

Congressman Ryan Thursday morning was asked about the possibility that Northside Hospital could become a VA hospital.

"We always have in mind the mid and long-term impact of something like this, and  I think talking about a veterans hospital should be on the agenda to talk about," said Ryan.
 
Another Valley lawmaker, Senator Joe Schiavoni, said that he has been assured that the clinic and medical offices at Northside will not be closing.