Push Admin

Georgia faces healthcare staff shortage amid lingering pandemic

Article (news)

Lenn Almadin Thornhill | TFC News Columbus, Georgia

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6DVBSZnPads?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>Nearly every industry and every business is looking for workers these days.A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Tuesday shows a record-breaking 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August, the highest level since the agency started tracking in 2000. The healthcare industry is one of the most affected sectors. The Covid-19 pandemic, officials say, exacerbated an already-existing shortage.Georgia nurse Karen Pedrozo said this is being seen even in the hospital she works in. &quot;Because of that, we’re also going through fatigue, not only physically but also emotionally. Working on the Covid floor, there&#x27;s strictly no visitors so we have to be there emotionally and mentally for our patients,&quot; she shared.Pedrozo noted they needed help. &quot;At one time, the state had sent help from different private agencies, nursing agencies to help out with the shortages.&quot;There has been a decrease in the number of new Covid cases in the Peach State. But the average daily increase in new patients for the past two weeks was about 320 a day.&quot;Currently in our hospitals, we are seeing non-vaccinated patients compared to before - younger but they are not as sick as before. We&#x27;re still suffering from a shortage of beds in our ICU,&quot; Pedrozo said.According to the American Nurses Association, more than 500,000 nurses are going to retire at the end of next year. The US Labor Department anticipates that 1 million new nurses will be needed to fill those slots.Some hospitals across the country are offering sign-on bonuses and are bolstering recruitment from other countries. But Lorna Buntichai of the Philippine Nurses Association of Georgia emphasized the difficulties in getting recruits &quot;because of the requirements.&quot;&quot;They have to be CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). They have to be proficient in English and they should have 2 years experience in the hospital, not just anywhere but active in the hospital,&quot; Buntichai pointed out.In the meantime, Pedrozo says she and her fellow healthcare workers are trying to keep it together. &quot;I do hope that the other nurses won’t give up,&quot; Pedrozo said.

The US state of Georgia suffers a shortage in medical frontliners amid the lingering pandemic. 

Georgia faces healthcare staff shortage amid lingering pandemic

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Georgia faces healthcare staff shortage amid lingering pandemic

Lenn Almadin Thornhill | TFC News Columbus,

Georgia

Published Oct 18, 2021 09:10 AM PHT

Read More:

Georgia

nurse shortage

hospitals

Covid-19 pandemic

TFC News

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.