nursing shortage

This additional funding toward the nursing industry comes after the pandemic revealed a nationwide shortage of nurses, including in Florida.

Among the other measures awaiting the governor's pen was a proposal that would broaden doctors’ ability to prescribe controlled substances through telemedicine.

Brooksville resident Darleen Gruver says she had to stop counting how many COVID patients she sent to the morgue. She says things have improved, but nursing shortages are still causing problems.

AARP Florida says its members have been calling and emailing the governor’s office, claiming the legislation will lead to reduced care for residents, potentially leading to harm.

The Senate voted to pass the measure. Debate has centered on changes involving certified nursing assistants, who provide much of the hands-on care to nursing-home residents.

The House voted 80-31 to approve the measure. The Senate also took up the bill and could pass it as soon as Monday.

As reductions in certified nursing assistants near floor votes in both state chambers, the White House announces an overhaul that will include new staffing minimums.

The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee approved an industry-backed bill that would reduce from 2.5 hours to 2 hours the minimum direct care that CNAs must provide per resident per day.

The amended version of the bill reduces — but does not eliminate — the care that residents must get from certified nursing assistants. Those nursing hours would drop from 2 1/2 to 2 hours a day.

Home health and hospice agencies are experiencing extreme worker shortages, which means they can’t provide services to all the patients seeking care.

The AARP’s state director Jeff Johnson spoke to WMFE’s Joe Byrnes about nursing homes and long term care facilities, and other issues that could affect seniors this session.

Many hospitals are dealing with a flood of people with COVID, including those primarily admitted for other reasons. These infections still drain the workforce and can put health workers and other patients at higher risk for contracting the virus.