Washington hospitals attempt to address shortages as concerns about the Omicron variant mount

BY CONNOR MCCARTHY

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VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) – Washington hospitals are posting signs for those seeking help to address a shortage of nurses.

The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) conducted a survey of 80 hospitals in the state, which make up 85% of the beds. They found a shortage of 6,100 nurses.

Chelene Whiteaker is WSHA’s senior vice president of government affairs and said the number is worrying. However, this shortage also follows a nationwide trend of staff shortages in other industries.

“Right now we were facing a significant shortage of graduating or training not enough people to care for those in need of medical care,” said Whiteaker.

To fill the gaps, nearly 3,000 traveling nurses work at Washington Hospitals. That means 3,000 more are needed. But neither the WSHA nor the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) see traveling nurses as a long-term solution. Whiteaker said these nurses can make many times more than a full-time hospital nurse. This creates an unsustainable business model.

“It’s not a long-term solution,” said Whiteaker. “Travelers usually come when they have someone on vacation who may be returning as an employee.”

WSNA executive director David Keepnews agrees. Travel nurses are too expensive for hospitals and they create another problem.

“Great that you attracted nurses from the hospitals they are in,” said Keepnews. “That could solve a hospital staffing problem in the short term, but you almost literally robbed Peter to pay Paul. It is not a solution and it is not sustainable. “

Washington nurses are leaving the WSHA study for a variety of reasons. Some are pandemic burnout, job changes, retirement, relocation with spouse, and the vaccination mandate. Whiteaker said the vaccine mandate played a small part in the scarcity.

“We believe we have lost between 1.3% and 1.9% of the nurses nationwide who left because of the vaccination mandate,” said Whiteaker.

But in order to keep nurses at the bedside, Keepnews said hospitals will have to pay the nurses more. But for Keepnews, paying is just as important as creating a healthy work environment with all the stress caregivers are exposed to.

“Obviously, nurses have made a commitment, exposed themselves to risk and worked longer and longer to meet patient needs,” Keepnews said. “But the chronic staff shortage has made their situation worse and worse. “

With the Omicron variant now at risk of a new spike in COVID cases across the country, adequate hospital staffing comes at a critical time for hospitals across the country. Whiteaker said Washingtoners should still expect top-notch care. But Keepnews disagrees.

“We like to say safe people, save lives, and we mean business,” said Keepnews.

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