Skilled nursing shortage nationwide affecting Idaho State Veteran's Homes, nurses needed

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Idaho State Veterans Services oversees three Veteran's Homes across the state including here in Boise.

And the State Veteran's Services says they're seeing a shortage, not with equipment, but with people.

CBS2 News spoke with the Director of Nursing for the Idaho State VA about the need for skilled nurses.

"It is the best nursing home, the best nursing experience I've ever had," says Director of Nursing Rachael Knight. "The quality of care, the heart that people give to these veterans so that they can have quality of life and some sort of family experience, especially if their family doesn't live close and can't visit."

Rachel Knight has been with the Boise Veterans Home for over 12 years.

She's the Director of Nursing for the care facility through the Idaho State Division of Veteran's Services.

"We care for the long term care residents for veterans of Idaho, we have 122 skilled beds, so people who need daily assistance with brushing their teeth, eating, getting dressed, and having some quality of life," Knight explains.

It's a job that requires a nursing background and a heart for service.

But nationwide, there is a shortage of skilled healthcare workers. the State VA is making the case for more healthcare workers to join their team.

"We are looking for people that want to come, work here full-time, part-time and be state employees so we have continuity of care," Knight explains. "So we really get to know those veterans. we are currently working with staffing agencies, temporarily so we can provide that care to the veterans so they don't suffer in any way and we have some of the best staffing levels in the state."

"We have positions pretty much in every profession within the Veteran's Homes from dietary to direct care staff," said Paul Spannknebel, Bureau Chief for the Idaho Division of Veterans Services Business Support Unit. "But primarily right now the issue is direct care staff the nursing shortages."

The Idaho Divison of Veteran Services is looking for skilled nurses of all levels, and Spannknebel tells me the pay is highly competitive.

"In Boise we are looking for 14 CNAs, in the Lewiston area 11 CNAs, and between the Pocatello, Lewiston and Boise areas, we are down a few nurses and LPNs, but the CNAs are definitely the shortfall,"Paul Spannknebel explains.

The Idaho State Veterans Home is also working to keep veterans and caregivers safe amid the COVID pandemic.

Each entrance of the campus has been retrofitted with these COVID-19 screening units.

Allowing staff to be screened and make sure they are fully outfitted with fresh PPE each and every time they enter the home.

Knight also tells me that the home has a stockpile of PPE to ensure that all staff and veterans are protected well into the future.

"We really are a family in taking care of our veterans. We become like family we want to come to work and we want to take care of these guys," Knight explains, "It's not just work and it's not just a paycheck here, it is a complete honor to serve these veterans."

If you are a CNA, LPN or RN, you can find more information and job listing through the stateHERE.

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