| | | Two-thirds of nurses surveyed by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses said their experiences during the pandemic have prompted them to consider leaving the field. And 21% of those polled in a study for the American Nurses Foundation said they planned to resign within the next six months. Another 29% said they might.
Longstanding ProblemUnlike some other areas of the economy, in hospitals and other care facilities, staffing crunches have been a longstanding problem that the pandemic and its fallout have exacerbated.
“When we talk to our nurses, they are screaming about safe staffing,” said Scott Palmer, a spokesman for the Oregon Nurses Association, the result of years of underinvestment in everything from wages to training.
Another issue is the disconnect between wages for permanent nursing positions, which haven’t budged much, and temporary rates.
“Permanent jobs aren’t compelling enough for people to stay,” said Parth Bhakta, chief executive officer of digital health-care staffing company Vivian, whose website highlights traveling nurse positions that pay as much as $13,000 a week. And why work in the ICU for $30 an hour when you can take a retail job for $25?
Bhakta predicts the strain on weaker systems means federal aid helping hospitals cope with Covid-19 will have to be extended.
“With aid ending, it’s going to be difficult to survive, and ultimately, the government is going to have to continue to step in,” he said. |
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