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Recursion

(56,582 posts) Mon Mar 9, 2020, 06:01 PM Mar 2020

The limiting factor for the response is not money, or even hospital beds [View all]

We can print or confiscate money. That's not a problem. We can hastily manufacture or nationalize rooms with beds in them. That's not a problem.

The hard limit is that the country has about 2 million RNs, and no more. We can't print RNs, we can't commandeer RNs. It takes 6 years to make someone an RN, and we've been short even in normal times.

This is what will limit our possible response to COVID.

13 replies

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The limiting factor for the response is not money, or even hospital beds [View all] Recursion Mar 2020 OP

Did you know there is a possibility of a healthcare draft? uppityperson Mar 2020 #1

Wut?? EndlessWire Mar 2020 #9

Here you go, selective service and a blog thing. Ages 20-45 uppityperson Mar 2020 #10

I think the limiting factor will be ventilators and other critical care infrastructure. RockRaven Mar 2020 #2

I think the workforce limit is going to kick in before that Recursion Mar 2020 #3

Ventilators for sure. Looks like Italy is already rationing MadLinguist Mar 2020 #7

It seems that production of needed supplies & equipment could be ramped up, but tblue37 Mar 2020 #12

No. If the demand is there they will produce as many as possible as fast as possible. GulfCoast66 Mar 2020 #13

Important perspective I haven't heard mentioned anywhere else underpants Mar 2020 #4

And the RNs we do have meadowlander Mar 2020 #5

That's why I posted this: Pobeka Mar 2020 #6

K&R, and that's if there's proper testing regime (which there's not) for mitigation !! uponit7771 Mar 2020 #8

Professional public education is also a huge limiting factor, along with.... KY_EnviroGuy Mar 2020 #11