100 Nurses Arrive to Help Short Staffed Healthcare Facilities

(KNSI) — More than 100 nurses are arriving at Minnesota hospitals starting today to assist short-staffed healthcare facilities.

The Minnesota Department of Health is directing nursing teams to hospitals identified by regional healthcare providers as most in need of emergency personnel.

The nurses will work up to 60 hours per week for 60 days to provide care for patients. The first round of nursing teams will arrive at 23 hospitals this week. Another wave of an additional 100 nurses will arrive in Minnesota in the coming days and will be sent out to more facilities identified by the MDH as needing emergency help. Federal strike teams were sent to Minnesota hospitals late last year, including CentraCare St. Cloud, to help overwhelmed staff there.

Hospitals getting the first wave of help include Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo, Alomere Health in Alexandria, Carris Health in Willmar, CentraCare Melrose, CentraCare Monticello, and M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center in Princeton.

Minnesota hospitals are reporting high staff absences due to COVID-19 infections and exposures, even as they treat a rising number of COVID-19 patients. As of Monday, Minnesota hospitals are treating more than 1,600 people for COVID-19, nearly 80 more than this time last week. There are almost 250 COVID-19 patients in Minnesota ICUs.

The state released $40 million in American Rescue Plan funding to hire emergency staff for certain healthcare facilities.

___