Nursing shortages are causing issues for hospitals across the country, including Southern Nevada, but while COVID-19 made the situation worse, shortages have existed for decades before. UNLV Nursing Professor and BSN Program Director Angela Silvestri-Elmore explains the systemic circumstances that have perpetuated past and present labor issues; and what needs to be normalized for nurses to provide a high level of care within and outside shortage-related conditions.

Nurses in red T-shirts — some with the word “heroes” crossed out and replaced with the word “humans” — held signs and played music outside of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center on a June afternoon as passing drivers honked in support.

Many health care workers are exhausted and overworked as staffing shortages remain a major issue in the valley.

Nursing student Acacia Herndon doesn’t graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas until June, but she’s already getting a jump on her career and providing some much-needed assistance at Centennial Hills Hospital during the stressful COVID-19 pandemic.

UNLV nursing student Acacia Herndon doesn’t graduate until June, but she’s already getting a jump on her career and providing some much-needed assistance at Centennial Hills Hospital during the stressful COVID-19 pandemic.