The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many local nurses to the verge of burnout. A Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 3 of 10 health care workers have considered getting out of the field. During National Nurses Week in 2021, many nurses say they need more support mentally, emotionally, and physically. The pandemic has exacerbated the ongoing nursing shortage and pushed many to leave or think about leaving nursing. “Everybody is.
The Truth Behind Nurses Week (May 6-12)
Since 1990, when the American Nurses Association declared that an entire week – from May 6-12
th (the birthday of Florence Nightingale) would be dedicated to celebrating the nation’s nurses, hospitals and other institutions that employ nurses use Nurses’ Week as a once a year opportunity to make up for any neglect, poor working conditions, or managerial mistreatment that nurses routinely experience in their workplaces. The media also occasionally joins in, hoping that nurses will overlook the fact that reporters consistently neglect the significant role nurses play in healthcare, highlighting instead the accomplishments of those they consider to be more prestigious physicians and bio-medical researchers. Even corporate America tries to burnish its altruistic image by promoting their products and offering freebies to RNs.
‘You feel like you’re in a war zone’: Nurse shortage worse than ever due to COVID-19 pandemic
Hospitals have been plagued for decades by a nurse shortage, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused many qualified nurses to leave the profession. Author: Kaila Lafferty (KING5) Updated: 8:29 AM PDT May 10, 2021
SEATTLE There has been a shortage of qualified nurses for decades, and the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) believes the shortage is not coming to an end anytime soon.
“We do expect the shortage to continue to grow and be more substantial over the coming future,” said Darcy Jaffe, the vice president of safety and quality at the WSHA.
02/23/21
National Safety Council
San Francisco, CA OSHA is prioritizing an infectious diseases standard for the health care industry, according to a motion filed Feb. 16 in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The joint motion, signed by Department of Labor counsel Joseph G. Gilliland and Democracy Forward Foundation counsel Michael C. Martinez, requested a suspension of a lawsuit brought against the Trump administration s DOL, former Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia and OSHA. The court granted the motion Feb. 19.
Democracy Forward filed the suit Oct. 29 on behalf of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the American Federation of Teachers; the Washington State Nurses Association; and the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. The four labor unions were attempting to get the court to compel OSHA to move forward on the standard, which was stalled since 2017.
Where can I get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19? Which phase am I in? Q13 News is compiling the information you need to know about getting vaccinated in Washington state.