Kern County addresses shortage of ICU nurses

Kern County is recruiting nurses from across the country to help the shortage of ICU nurses.

ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS ISRECRUITING AND BRINGING INI-C-U NURSES -- SO OFFICIALS SAYNEXT WEEK -- THE BOARD OFSUPERVISORS WILL HAVE AN ITEMASKING FOR MONEY TO HELPWITH THE NURSE SHORTAGE.THAT ITEM WILL BE REQUESTINGMONEY FROM THE FEDERAL CARESACT.KERN MEDICAL CHIEF EXECUTIVEOFFICER RUSSELL JUDD ALSOADDRESSING THIS PROPOSAL ASWELL..."THIS AGREEMENT THAT MATTREFERENCED, IS TO ALLOW US TOSTAFF ABOVE OUR ICU CAPACITY.EACHHOSPITAL IS COMMITTED TOENSURING THAT THERE IS MAINLYNURSES AND ALL THE OTHER THATGOES WITH IT, TO STAFF UP TOTHEIR LICENSED ICU BEDS.

THIS ISTO NOW TAKE US OVER THATCAPACITY AND INTO THE SURGE."JUDD ALSO SAID HOSPITALS AREALMOST AT CAPACITY ANDJUDD ALSO SAID HOSPITALS AREALMOST AT CAPACITY ANDADDED THAT THERE ARE 270POSITIVE CASES IN KERN MEDICALAND ABOUT 66 IN THE I-C-U.JUDD ALSO APPLAUDED THEPROACTIVE ACTION FROM THECOUNTY -- AND NOT WAITING UNTILIT MAY BE TOO LATE.TODAY WE SPOKE WITH THEPRESIDENT AND C-E-O FROMADVENTIST HEALTH BAKERSFIELD --WHO EXPLAINEDWHY THE DEMAND IS SO HIGH FORNURSES...SHE SAID YES ITS THE PANDEMIC --BUT ITS ALSO BECAUSENORMALLY DURING THE SUMMER --THERE IS NOT AS MANY I-C-UPATIENTS..."HISTORICALLY WE HAVEN'T HADTHISMANY PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL ATTHIS TIME.

NOW WE HAVE THEPANDEMIC HIT.

MORE LOCATIONSNEED HELP WITH THE ICU'S, SO WENEED HELP WITH THE NURSES."NOW THIS ITEM WILL GO BEFORE THEBOARD OF SUPERVISORSDURING ITS MEETING THIS UPCOMINGTUESDAY.TODAY FEDERAL EVICTIONPROTECT