Since the beginning of the pandemic the amount of working nurses has significantly decreased, leaving hospitals struggling to help patients. Many nurses have become burnt out from the extra stress of COVID-19, or have begun to feel unsafe due to the lack of proper protection equipment for bedside nursing, leading to skyrocketing nurse retirement rates. Because of these conditions, hospitals have been forced to use travel nurses, whom’s services can cost from $1000-5000 per week. Traveling nurses are trained registered nurses who work for agencies and are assigned to temporary positions across the country as needed.
Many believe the solution to this problem is focusing on nurse mental health. Nurse Joanna Ennegram says, “The hardest part was feeling like I had no support.” She retired in February, feeling like she couldn’t do her job effectively. “You’re seeing someone who is scared and suffering, and you’re not able to be present with them because you’re so overworked.”
According to a poll done by the Washington Post, 60% nurses feel that their mental health declined from anxiety about COVID-19, and 55% say that they feel burnt out. This trend is a major change since before quarantine began. In contrast, a 2019 study says that 95% of nurses reported feeling satisfied and happy with their jobs.
Not only does declining nurse mental health affect the nurses, but it also affects the patients. One study shows that nurse fatigue leads to fatal mistakes in care and potentially damaging misadministration in some treatments. Patients also feel less supported, and as a result, may not recover as well.
Fortunately, some nurses have taken their mental health into their own hands. Nurses Nadia Moore and Anthony Berardi have started Nurses Anonymous, an organization for nurses across the country to seek help and community with other nurses dealing with burnout. The group meets via Zoom, and discusses healthy coping mechanisms, traumatizing experiences, and ways to support each other and the industry as a whole. Nurses Anonymous meets at 8:30 EST on Tuesdays, twice a month.
Because of grueling work conditions, unprioritized mental health, and constant stress, many resident nurses have made the decision to become traveling nurses. While permanent nurses are paid on smaller salaries, traveling nurses are paid weekly, and can receive up to $5000 per week. Nurses are further incentivized by opportunities to practice on a higher level and attempt to advance their careers. Most smaller local hospitals are unable to match higher salaries, leaving them without nurses.
In Kansas City, Truman Medical Centers has lost ten nurses to travel jobs. CEO Charlie Shields states that it is “hard to compete with the travel agencies” when it has become so expensive to keep permanent nurses on staff. It can cost $30,000 to $50,000 to replace a single nurse. If Barstow students are interested in helping hospitals function normally they can look into volunteering, as help is always needed at hospitals. Nearby hospitals looking for volunteers include Overland Park Regional Medical Center (must be 16 or older), or Children’s Mercy, accepting all applications.
