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MORE POSITIONS: Health regions have been commissioned to create 100 new educational positions. Here in the intensive care unit at Rikshospitalet. Photo: Gabriel Aas Skålevik
Bent Høie wants more intensive care nurses in Norwegian hospitals. The pandemic has been a revelation for health authorities, according to the Norwegian Nurses Association.
– The Norwegian Nurses Association has raised with us their concern about the lack of intensive care nurses, which has become very visible in this situation now, says Health Minister Bent Høie to VG.
It is now tasking health regions by 2021 to create 100 new educational positions in intensive care starting in January. They are also charged with studying the future need for intensive care capacity and strengthening the work of recruiting, developing and retaining intensive care nurses in hospitals.
The new educational positions mean that nurses can continue their education as intensive care nurses while receiving a salary from the hospital.
– We are very happy and the intensive care unit appreciates it very much. It is a government that has listened to what we have described are needs in the health service related to intensive care capacity, says the leader of the Norwegian Nurses Association, Lill Sverresdatter Larsen.
– We have been warning of the lack of intensive capacity for several years, but it is clear that when a pandemic like this occurs, it becomes a magnifying glass on an existing problem.
Great need
One in six intensive care nurses is over the age of 60 and there is a great need for more education, according to Larsen.
– It is important to do this survey, so that we both see the need that is here and now, and beyond. We have lacked that overview.
Only Health South-East warns that they need 75 new intensive care nurses.
– So 100 is a very good start, he says.
WIN: The leader of the Norwegian Nurses Association, Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, is very happy that the Minister of Health is strengthening the supply of intensive care nurses. Photo: Rune Stoltz Bertinussen
– It is clear that nothing has been resolved in January. But it is a very good direction, and it gives hope that it is possible to have more intensive capacity and readiness for society in health services, but also a better working relationship for intensive care nurses.
– It takes five years to train an intensive care nurse. You stated earlier this week that intensive care nurses are working until death now during the pandemic. what do you think about it?
– We also have to take steps to keep what we have. Salary is part of it if you are going to be able to stay in it for a longer period. Also to make it easier for those over 60 in terms of turnover, says Larsen.
Unusual step
Høie believes that it is important to prioritize the supply of intensive care nurses as the situations are now.
– It is essential with health personnel, so we know that there are challenges in relation to the fact that some will be retiring soon and there is a need to hire more. Then you must also have educational ability.
The Health Minister says it is unusual for them to step up and impose a specific figure for health regions.
TASK: Health Minister Bent Høie tasks health regions by 2021 to create 100 new educational positions in intensive care. Photo: Terje Bringedal
– But we do it now because we agree with the Norwegian Nurses Association that it is so important for this group that we get started. And then we have to use stronger tools to make this happen.
Høie is convinced that areas for which they could have better prepared after the pandemic will be pinpointed.
– When it comes to the question of whether we need more intensive care nurses, the answer is yes, and that was also before the pandemic. As I said this spring, I am absolutely convinced that we will have a debate on whether our overall intensive capacity is good enough, so instead of waiting for the report, it is such an obvious question that we can start the study now.
