Nursing Shortage Becoming National Crisis

Back in September, The American Nurses Association sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting the agency to declare the nursing, physician, and other healthcare worker shortage a national crisis, citing overwhelmed health systems and burnt out staff. COVID-19 has further exacerbated a problem that existed for years and is now having major impacts. The initial impacts of the pandemic were on shortages of equipment such as ventilators, PPE, and beds. Now that problem has moved to chronic human shortages. "ANA is deeply concerned that this severe shortage of nurses, especially in areas experiencing high numbers of COVID-19 cases, will have long-term repercussions for the profession, the entire healthcare delivery system, and ultimately, on the health of the nation," the group wrote to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Florida and North Carolina seem to be particularly hit hard by the shortage. Healthcare facilities in Florida are seeing a huge demand for Travel Nurses. Travel Nurses are often paid higher than full-time staff, and also have the flexibility of changing jobs and locations every 13 weeks. According to an article in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Aya Healthcare, a medical staffing firm, has reported the demand for travel nurses has increased 284% from the same time last year.