Texas Hospitals Struggle to Hire Enough Nurses amid New COVID-19 Outbreak

Texas hospitals struggle to hire enough nurses

Texas hospitals are struggling to find enough nurses to meet the increasing demand for care. A shortage of qualified nurses in Texas has caused many hospitals to turn to staffing agencies for help. In an effort to retain existing nurses, some hospitals are raising salaries and offering bonuses to retain staff. For example, UAMS recently announced a $10,000 retention bonus for nurses working in its high-need units. Some hospitals are also offering temporary contracts similar to those offered by traveling nurse companies. The nurses can then return to regular employment when their contracts expire.

In addition to staffing shortages, Texas hospitals are facing burnout. The shortage has caused many nurses to leave the profession, and some of them are choosing to take better paying jobs elsewhere. Despite these challenges, officials at many Texas hospitals are working to hire more nurses to ease the situation.

Some nurses can afford to leave the workforce

A COVID-19 outbreak has left Texas hospitals in a nursing shortage, putting a premium on nurses’ salaries and workloads. But some nurses can afford to leave the workforce to focus on their family or a professional future. As an alternative, some hospitals are offering bonuses to attract nurses and other staff.

Texas Emergency Hospital is one such place. It employs 150 nurses but is currently experiencing a shortage of around 50 shifts a week. Recruiters are offering up to $20,000 signing bonuses and $140-an-hour pay. The hospital also pays a $2 night shift stipend.

Increasing workloads and COVID 19-related stress are affecting the nursing workforce and could lead to burnout. This is a major concern for US health and the nursing workforce, which is responsible for almost 30% of hospital employment nationwide.

Some nurses are leaving the workforce because of the delta variant of COVID-19

The delta variant of COVID-19 is a reoccurring pandemic that has hit communities across the U.S. and created new challenges for the health care system. It has exacerbated the widespread burnout and aging workforce that already plague the industry. It is a particularly devastating epidemic for front-line caregivers. Just a few years ago, many nurses were confident that the worst was behind them. Now, they feel like a tsunami has hit.

As a result, some nurses are opting to leave the workforce. This allows them to spend time with their families or consider a future in another profession.