COVID-19 spikes worsen nurse shortages in western U.S.

The northern Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Upper Midwest are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases that has led to shortages of health care workers. In Montana, shortages have prompted employees exposed to the virus to continue working. In North Dakota, hospitals are considering a halt to elective surgeries and may seek government assistance to hire more nurses. The surge in cases and the resulting quarantining of health care workers has exacerbated shortages existing in these regions before the pandemic, a situation made worse by the fact outbreaks are scattered among distant rural localities, and not contained in metropolitan hubs. Even in urban areas, the supply of medical professionals is short. (Kaiser Health News article, 10/26/20)