|
 "Never in my wildest dreams," he said as he completed his two-week
training course at Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin on
Friday.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an existing shortage of healthcare
workers with about one in five quitting since February 2020,
according to a Morning Consult poll published in October.
"Our healthcare workers are in desperate need of our help. They're
beyond exhausted," said Dr. Lisa Marie Greenwood, the associate dean
of nursing at Madison College.
Last month, state officials asked the college to train National
Guard troops to help alleviate the strain at hospitals and nursing
homes around Wisconsin.
In early February, 70 soldiers-turned-certified nursing assistants
were deployed to their postings. The next wave of 80 trainees will
start work this week.
One of those facilities to receive aid was Wisconsin Dells Health
Services, a long-term care facility for patients with dementia and
Alzheimer's.
Before 10 National Guard soldiers arrived in January, Heather
Steubinger, the director of nursing, felt she could not take the
stress much longer.
[to top of second column] |
 "I absolutely love my job - never, ever could've
imagined doing anything different with my life -
until the pandemic hit," she said. "I questioned
so many times, like, 'can I do this? Do I want
to do this?'"
Her colleagues were quitting in droves, and
hospitals were eager to shift patients to the
long-term care facility to free up beds.
But the soldiers offered a lifeline.
But it's only a temporary fix. The soldiers are
only signed on until mid-March, though the
healthcare workers hope they will be granted an
extension.
"I feel like we're all able to breathe a little
bit better," Steubinger said. "It's been a
blessing."
(Reporting by Vanessa Johnston; Editing by Lisa
Shumaker)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
