Washington hospitals are facing a severe shortage of health care workers and a higher patient capacity amid the fifth wave of COVID-19 spurred on by the Delta variant.
Associations representing about 71,000 Washington nurses and healthcare worker, including the Washington State Nurses Association,SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, and UFCW 21 are asking hospitals to help reduce the shortage by offering an adequate salary to current staff, filling departments that are understaffed to help make sure patients have safe access to care.