A new survey has shed light on the looming threat of hospital staff shortage should the COVID-19 vaccine be forced among nurses.
According to a survey conducted by the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) of UC Medical Center union nurses, 30% of those questioned are willing to leave their jobs owing to vaccine mandates.
"I think we would have a staffing catastrophe on our hands at that time," ONA representative Dominic Mendiola said. "It would make the nurses that remain jobs exceptionally difficult and it could compromise patient care long term."
Mendiola said that there are between 1,500 and 1,700 union registered nurses at UC, with 456 responding to the survey. Thirty percent of those polled indicated they were willing to leave because of the mandate.
UC Health responded to the study by underlining that the results do not represent the views of the majority of its 10,000 employees, including our 2,600 nurses across the UC Health system.
Mendiola emphasized that unless they have a valid medical or personal exemption, everyone should get vaccinated.
That same survey also revealed 70% of respondents had already been vaccinated.
The union is due to meet with the hospital on Sept. 13 to discuss the matter.
In August, Qualtrics conducted a similar survey in which participants were asked what they would do if their employer required them to be vaccinated. The findings clearly demonstrate the gulf that exists between Americans.
Approximately 44% of workers stated they would consider quitting their employment if they were required to get their immunizations. About 38% of employees would contemplate quitting their current employment if the organization did not implement a vaccine mandate.
The U.S. Food and Drug Associated granted an Emergency Use Authorization for the COVID-19 vaccines. This implies that, unlike previous vaccinations, this new shot is provided with the disclaimer that it is entirely voluntary.
Nonetheless, it appears that employers may legally require vaccinations as a condition of employment. There are, however, some exceptions. Companies, for example, must accommodate religious views or medical issues.
Some employees have little option because their employers have already made the decision.
Facebook, Google, Twitter, Morgan Stanley, CNN, the Washington Post, United Airlines, Microsoft, Uber, Netflix, Walgreens, Tyson, Walmart, and Disney all ordered their employees to get their doses.
