‘Huge sigh of relief’: Harris Health System receives help from 100 crisis nurses as COVID-19 cases continue to surge

HOUSTON – With multiple hospitals in the Houston area dealing with staffing issues, the Harris Health System received some much-needed help on Thursday.

Harris Health has 100 crisis nurses from all over the country, except Hawaii and Alaska. They are ready to work and help hospitals with the recent surge of COVID-19 cases.

As of now, Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson hospitals will each receive 40 nurses and 10 respiratory therapists.

Maureen Padilla is the Senior Vice President for nursing at Harris Health. She says the help is a much-needed relief for patients who’ve had to wait several hours at hospitals and other healthcare workers who have been working around the clock.

“It is a huge sigh of relief to our nursing personnel who been working very hard long hours, multiple shifts and picking up extra shifts every week. This will give them a little bit of a break and a little bit of a breath,” Padilla said.

Harris Health says the workers will be here through September.

Health officials also stressed the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. They said if you cannot get the shot, do your part by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing your hands.