Hospitals are full. As stated above, they’re supposed to be in order to do well financially. They’re not full due to lack of staff, the number of available beds hasn’t been changing per hospital. Everyone is working overtime and burnout is slowly but increasingly contributing to more shortages.
Hospitals have become increasingly less desirable places to work over the last few years. There was a national nursing shortage well before covid was in the picture and now it’s really hit the fan. We’re about to see it hit a new level of ugliness as healthcare professionals get fired for not being vaccinated.
In my own hospital we’re going to be losing amazing nurses with 15 years of experience earning $50 an hour and replacing them with temp workers earning $225 an hour. Amazing times we’re seeing. No plan to fill open positions as we haven’t been able to fill them over the last 18 months anyway, only difference is now there will be more positions to fill. Morale is low, people are bitter. Anyone want to join up?