Over 100 nurses arrive to help short-staffed state hospitals

More than 100 nurses are arriving in Minnesota to help short-staffed health care facilities.

Last week, Gov. Tim Walz announced his request of $40 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan to help support state hospitals with emergency staff amid the latest COVID-19 surge.

Walz said that $40 million would cover costs for providers, primarily registered nurses, who will work 60 hours per week for 60 days to provide care for patients at certain state hospitals facing staffing shortages.

The Minnesota Department of Health is directing nursing teams to hospitals that have been identified by regional health care providers as being the most in need of additional staff.

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 to support even more health care facilities, state leaders said.

"Our health care workers have provided superb care to sick Minnesotans throughout this pandemic," Walz said in a statement. "But now, the omicron variant is causing cases to surge, in some cases sidelining our medical personnel. At this critical moment, when our doctors and nurses are asking for our help, we are providing it. More than 100 nurses will provide urgent care and relieve overworked staff at Minnesota hospitals right away, with more help on the way. As we confront the omicron variant in the weeks ahead, the best way for Minnesotans to help our hospitals is to get vaccinated and get boosted for COVID-19, wear a mask in public, and get tested and stay home if you’re sick."

Nurses arriving in the first wave to Minnesota are assisting the following hospitals, to start:

• Winona Health
• Lake Region Healthcare
• Alomere Health
• Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
• Carris Health – Willmar
• Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center
• Sanford Worthington Medical Center
• Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato
• Essentia Health – St Mary’s Medical Center
• CentraCare Monticello
• M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center – Wyoming
• M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center – Princeton
• M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
• Allina Health Clinic – Buffalo
• Allina Health – Cambridge Medical Center
• CentraCare Melrose
• Mercy Hospital
• Abbott Northwestern Hospital
• Regions Hospital
• North Memorial Hospital
• HCMC
• M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
• United Hospital