Hospitals forced to make changes to protect staffing levels as COVID-19 cases rise Hospitals exploring alternative staffing models Share Updated: 6:15 PM EST Dec 9, 2020 Hospitals exploring alternative staffing models Share Updated: 6:15 PM EST Dec 9, 2020 Hide Transcript Show Transcript OR AN IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR LNA’S? OR ACTUALLY CLOSING DOWN SOME WARDS TO PROTECT NURSES FROM BURN OUT? HOSPITAL LEADERS ARE INNOVATING WAYS TO PROTECT A MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE RIGHT NOW. >> I DON’T THINK "HERO" IS STRONG ENOUGH A WORD AMY: NURSES ARE TIRED AND STRETCHED THIN RIGHT NOW. >> NURSES ARE THE HEROES HERE. THEY ARE THE ONES AT THE BED SIDE. AMY: THE SCOPE AND STRAIN VARIES AT EACH HOSPITAL, BUT THE SENTIMENT AROUND NURSES IS UNIVERSAL. DR. B BAXTER: BAKE AR -- DR. BAXTER: THEY ARE REALLY IN THIS FOR THE MISSION. THEY WOULDN’T BE DOING IT OTHERWISE. AMY: HOSPITALIZATIONS REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH TODAY AT THE ELLIOT 285 PATIENTS, 46 ARE COVID POSITIVE, SURGE CAPACITY PLA ARE BEING CONSIDERED, AND, FOR NURSES, OVERTIME SHIFTS ARE A REALIT DR. BAXTER: WE, AT THIS POINT, ARE MANAGING THROUGH THAT BUT IT’S TIGHT. AMY: PORTSMOUTH REGIONAL HOSPITAL IS WATCHING STAFFING ISSUES CLOSELY LEADERS OPTING TO BLOCK BEDS TO PROTECT STAFFING LEVELS. DR. WOLD: I THINK, UNIVERSALLY, THERE IS LESS STAFF AT THE TABLE. AND THERE IS LESS ABILITY TO PULL STAFF FROM DIFFERENT AREAS. AMY: AT ST. JOE’S, THEY ARE FEELING FORTUNATE RIGHT NOW . OFFICIALS SAY STAFFING LEVELS ARE GOOD DESPITE OCCASIONAL QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION NEEDS. DR. MADDEN: OUR NURSES, OUR PROVIDERS THEY ARE VERY RESILIENT. THEY GO INTO HEALTH CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE COMMITTED. IT’S A CHALLENGE BUT I THINK THEY ARE RISING TO IT. AMY: PORTSMOUTH REGIONAL HOSPITAL IS EXPLORING OPEN