Syracuse, N.Y. - Upstate University Hospital says it is temporarily closing around 20 percent of its patient beds because of a shortage of nurses.
That translates to 124 beds without staff, and 544 still open.
Upstate currently has 400 open nursing jobs.
The hospital says it is aggressively advertising for new employees, and is boosting overtime pay and vacation time for existing workers.
This comes as Health care workers granted religious exemptions to New York State’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate have until Monday to get their first dose, or lose their jobs.
Immediately after the mandate was issued, 17 healthcare professionals filed a lawsuit against the state because it did not include the option of a religious exemption.
A federal judge in Utica has since ruled in favor of the mandate.
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