Healthcare News Updates: Vaccine Mandates Increase PRN Jobs

This week we bring our healthcare worker readers another news roundup. Big things are happening on the healthcare stage nationwide, mostly in relation to the controversy surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines.

Pfizer Vaccine FDA Approval Prompts More Vaccine Mandates

At the beginning of August, the United States reportedly reached the 70% vaccination goal for at least partial immunization set forth by the Biden Administration, unfortunately, it comes amid the sharp rise of confirmed COVID cases as the delta variant wreaks havoc. Cited reasons for refusing the vaccine vary, although one large contingent has expressed concern over the vaccines' emergency approval status from the FDA.

Many people both healthcare clinicians and civilians alike who have resisted offers for vaccination against COVID may change their stance in the coming weeks as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement on Monday, August 23rd announcing full FDA approval for the PFizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for persons aged 16 years and older. The emergency approval status remains for minors 12 years to 15 years old.

The announcement was quickly followed by an announcement from several institutions nationwide that will move forward with places to require vaccine compliance. One of the first to move forward with such an announcement was the Pentagon stating that all military personnel will be required to vaccinate.

Louisiana Faces Double Trouble

Louisiana's vaccination rate is lower than the aforementioned nationwide goal suggests, the state's statistics showing a much lower rate of 49.5% of the population with at least one dose. With FDA approval for Pfizer having been announced, Louisiana universities will begin plans for vaccine mandates of students and staff. However, these plans are coming up against a natural disaster, hurricane Ida.

Louisiana faces a double threat as the hospitals face an unrelenting onslaught of intake for COVID confirmed cases and hurricane Ida thrashes communities leaving damage and disruption to water and power sources.

Reportedly, intensive care units across Louisiana were already almost to capacity, at 86%, half of those COVID patients. The state is in the top ten for highest hospitalizations due to coronavirus, and operating hospitals with water leaks and using power generators is stretching healthcare clinicians to the maximum.

Some hospitals are organizing evacuations, an enormous task under normal circumstances without pandemic provisions to consider. New Orleans Children's Hospital had recently opened a new addition, a project that cost $300 million, and with a weekend of hurricane Ida storms, it's been relegated to emergency power and significant water damage.

The Rise of Vaccine Mandates

Several states are making moves to make vaccination mandatory for state and healthcare workers. Most mandates include language that allows for certain exemptions, but with exemptions applies a requirement for frequent COVID testing and masking.

States who to date have some form of vaccine mandate orders include:

While that list covers a large territory, there are still several states remaining without vaccine mandates in place. The situation is rapidly evolving, and while some state governors and political officials are adamantly against a vaccine mandate stance, others are less vocal and seem to be waiting to see how things proceed.

Check out the most popular ways to stay hydrated on the job in our post about the best water bottles for nurses.

States with Legislation Forbidding a Vaccine Mandate

While the list of states with a vaccine mandate remains less than the majority, two states went the opposite direction and actually passed legislation that forbids a mandate.

Utah was one such state, in December of 2020, the Beehive State passed legislation that would block any COVID vaccine mandate attempts, however, the legislation applies only to the vaccines that are covered by FDA emergency use authorization. With Pfizer's now- full FDA approval, that could change. Montana is in a similar predicament to Utah, having legislation that prevents mandate for a vaccine that is under emergency use authorization or safety trials.

What Does the Rise of Vaccine Mandates Mean for Per Diem Staff?

What this does mean for all healthcare workers? It means that per diem shift opportunities are surging. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and other allied healthcare workers are feeling the pinch of staffing shortages nationwide. In states where vaccine mandates have gone into effect, we are seeing per diem shift opportunities in even greater numbers as staff reconciles their work requirements with their beliefs and desires.

It's important for our PRN staff who are fully inoculated against the coronavirus to ensure that their Nursa^TM professional portfolio is updated with certifications of their vaccines. Having one of the three COVID vaccinations on your file will not only help your competitive edge for the most lucrative and coveted shifts but will widen the range of your opportunities as well.

Many facilities even in states who have not yet instituted vaccine mandates may be considering their own requirements and maybe looking for temporary staff who are already vaccinated and therefore not a risk to walk out if a mandate is issued.

For PRN staff who use Nursa^TM that are not vaccinated for the coronavirus, consider carefully the job requirements for PRN shifts that you apply. Be sure a COVID vaccination is not a listed requirement. You can maintain your reputation for being a hard worker and desired PRN staff best if you don't have to back out of a shift at the last minute due to a miscommunication regarding vaccine requirements. There are PRN shifts available to clinicians without the vaccine, of that make no mistake.

For more healthcare news, read our article about the ban on noncompetes, which frees up healthcare professionals to take control of their careers and ultimately, destinies.