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Critical need for nursing staff

Hospital capacity is often referred to a “beds,” but the surge in COVID cases has proven that to be misleading. What really affects capacity, hospital administrators will tell you, is people on staff to treat those in the beds.

More than beds these days, hospitals need trained people, nurses especially, to treat those who are sick.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday he intends to use $40 million in federal pandemic relief funds to bring in health care staff from out of state to take some of the burden from the overtaxed hospital staff in the state. The funding will pay a staffing agency to bring in nurses to work 60-hour weeks for two months. By that time, authorities hope the current surge in COVID cases will have peaked and the demand for hospital care will be back to more manageable levels.

We continue to marvel at the heroic efforts of our health care providers during this time, but we know they are stretched thin. Any help the government can provide to aid and assist them would be most welcome.

The state is also considering the passage of a multi-state compact with surrounding states to allow nurses licensed in other states to work in Minnesota. It is a common sense move that the Legislature should pass as soon as possible.

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