Judge Canales asks Nurses to Consider Returning to Work
Statement from Barbara Canales, Nueces County Judge
Nueces County (Press Release) - We have an urgent situation in the Coastal Bend.
Because of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, we are now in another surge of infections. And our capacity to handle these infections is limited by a shortage of nurses.
Here’s how bad it is:
Every staffed hospital bed is full. All area hospitals are on divert, which means they cannot accept patients. This includes Corpus Christi, Victoria, Kingsville, Beeville, and San Antonio.
There are beds available but no nursing staff for them.
I have reached out to state officials at Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Department of State Health Services and will be making an official request for assistance as soon as possible.
This help may take time, or may not be available – there is a shortage of nurses across the state and the entire nation.
Many nurses left the workforce during the pandemic, some due to the workload, and others due to providers which went out of business due to COVID.
I would ask that in this time of crisis, all nurses who are able and not currently working step up and contact our hospitals to help out.
We truly need your help – our community is facing an enormous challenge, and nurses hav ALWAYS risen to the challenge.
If you are a nurse and want to see how you can help, contact the Nueces County Volunteer Help Line at 859-396-8204.
