BOSTON — State officers have eased hiring necessities for out-of-state nurses and different healthcare employees as hospitals battle workers shortages amid a brand new surge in COVID-19 infections.
An order by interim Public Well being Commissioner Margret Cooke permits out-out-state registered nurses, sensible nurses, superior apply registered nurses, doctor assistants, respiratory therapists, perfusionists and emergency medical technicians to bypass the traditional certification course of to work within the state.
Beneath the momentary guidelines, these healthcare employees can be granted a state license, legitimate till Dec. 31, so long as they’re licensed to apply in one other state and their credentials are “in good standing” with no disciplinary actions towards them.
Usually, touring nurses are required to undergo the state Board of Nurse Registration and different processes to get momentary licenses.
The order additionally permits nurses and specialised healthcare employees who’ve been licensed in Massachusetts inside the previous 10 years to get a brief license.
“A board or licensing authority shall notify the commissioner when it turns into conscious of any particular person occasion the place, as a result of particular issues, software of this order could also be opposite to the general public curiosity,” the DPH order states.
“The commissioner shall in her sole discretion decide whether or not to use or droop the phrases of this order in any such particular person occasion,” it provides.
The brand new guidelines are just like loosened hiring rules set by Gov. Charlie Baker final 12 months in response to the pandemic and a scarcity of healthcare employees.
These guidelines have been prolonged till the top of the 12 months, however solely included nurses and different healthcare employees already quickly licensed within the state.
When Massachusetts was battling the primary wave of coronavirus earlier final 12 months, nurses flocked to the state from throughout the nation to assist. However because the nation faces a surge of infections among the many unvaccinated, fueled by a extremely contagious pressure of the virus, that pool of well being care employees is drying up.
Steve Walsh, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Well being and Hospital Affiliation, mentioned the licensing flexibility is required as hospitals battle a surge in new infections, together with sufferers looking for take care of illnesses they deferred throughout the pandemic.
He mentioned easing the necessities will “develop the pool of certified nurses that may take care of the inflow of sufferers coming into their services.”
“Whereas the Massachusetts healthcare system is going through a large number of recent challenges, there’s little question that staffing shortages are on the high of the checklist,” he mentioned. “Suppliers throughout the state are struggling to recruit and retain employees – from clinicians to housekeeping workers and administrative assist. Nurses and behavioral well being professionals are in particularly excessive demand.”
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and web sites. Electronic mail him at cwade@northofboston.com.