Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1414493
40 NURSING SPOTLIGHT State of the nursing shortage: 7 notes By Erica Carbajal P erhaps more than any other point in the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across the U.S. are feeling the effects of a severe nursing shortage. At the same time, hospitalizations are rising, with some states including Florida and Louisiana recording their highest numbers of COVID-19 hospi- talizations yet. Seven notes on the nursing shortage : 1. Pre-pandemic, there was already a nursing short- age. e pressures of COVID-19 compounded the situation as some nurses began leaving the workforce altogether and others retired early. 2. By 2030, estimates suggest California will face the largest nursing shortage of any state. e Bureau of Health Workforce projects the state will have a deficit of 44,500 nurses. 3. On Aug. 9, the Florida Hospital Association said nearly 70 percent of the state's hospitals could face critical staffing shortages within the next seven days. is comes as a record 14,787 patients were hospital- ized with COVID-19 in the state as of Aug. 10. 4. In Texas, there are 23,000 more unfilled RN positions than there are nurses looking to fill them, according to a labor analysis by the Texas Workforce Commission cited by e Texas Tribune. On Aug. 9, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott asked for hospitals to consider postponing elective procedures to boost capacity and resources as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise. More than 10,000 Texans were hospitalized with the virus as of Aug. 9, the highest since February, according to data from the state's health department cited by a Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate. 5. e shortage has created a competitive job market, with hospitals losing nurses to either other hospitals offering pay incentives or to travel nurse agencies. Little Rock-based University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, for example, said it would offer a $25,000 sign-on bonus for nurses hired to work in 24/7 criti- cal care areas. 6. To keep nurses from taking opportunities else- where, some health systems have also begun offering retention bonuses to current nurses. Oklahoma City-based OU Health has also launched a "Travel at Home" program, giving current nurses the option to be paid a traveling nurse rate in place of a benefits package, unless legally mandated. 7. e current situation has some health officials wor- ried the resources are being pulled away from small or rural hospitals that can't afford to attract or retain nurs- es with pay incentives, e Texas Tribune reported. n Most nurses vaccinated, support mandates: 8 ANA survey findings By Erica Carbajal A bout 88 percent of surveyed U.S. nurses are vaccinated against COVID-19, or plan to be vaccinated, according to survey find- ings from the American Nurses Association published Aug. 18. The findings are based on responses from 4,912 U.S. nurses. The survey was administered between July 6-30, 2021. Seven more survey findings: 1. Nearly 59 percent of respondents said they support vaccine man- dates put in place by employers. 2. Eighty-four percent of nurses said they would get a booster dose if recommended. 3. About 81 percent of respondents said they are comfortable or very comfortable recommending the vaccine. 4. Almost 66 percent of nurses who responded said FDA approval would not change their current stance on the vaccines. 5. Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they have ongoing ques- tions regarding immunity and how long vaccine effectiveness lasts. Questions about whether additional boosters will be needed was the second most-selected response. 6. Among those who were not vaccinated, 84 percent selected "Not enough information about long-term effects of the vaccine" as a reason why. 7. Sixty-six percent of respondents said they feel they are getting enough information about the vaccines. n Delaware grants full practice authority for APRNs By Mackenzie Bean D elaware Gov. John Carney signed a bill into law Aug. 4 grant- ing full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses in the state. Delaware is now the 24th state that allows nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists and other APRNs to practice without physician supervision. "Delaware is the second state this year to enact [full practice author- ity] legislation and enlist NPs as key partners in addressing unprece- dented health needs and persistent disparities in healthcare access and outcomes," April Kapu, DNP, president of the American Associa- tion of Nurse Practitioners, said in a news release. Mr. Carney also signed a companion bill Aug. 4 to enact the APRN Com- pact. Delaware is the second state to join the compact behind North Da- kota. Once at least seven states join, the compact will take effect, allowing APRNs to practice in all participating states under one license. n