FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A nationwide shortage of nurses has administrators at the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center ready to start an ambitious hiring campaign.

Next month, the hospital will launch a multimedia project to hire 100 nurses in 100 days. Currently, the hospital is down 70 nurses. The program will offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including attractive features for newly graduated nurses.

Spokeswoman Clinton Weaver said the campaign will ease the stress on hospital staff.

"We have backups in the emergency department, patients waiting for beds when they come out of the operating room, so the key is the nurse," Weaver said. "If we get the nurse, we can get the bed open and operate more efficiently."

If you would like more information about "100 nurses in 100 days," you can call

1-877-7CAPEFEAR

.