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RMCHCS temporarily closes maternity ward

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Hospital seeks nursing staff to fill shortage

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services reopened and re-staffed its maternity unit Oct. 26 after a temporary, two-day closure due to a shortage of labor and delivery nurses, according an Oct. 26 RMCHCS press release.

“RMCHCS had a key maternity nurse who was out for two days sick so they had two deliveries in the ER during her absence,” William Madaras, director of Glass Lantern PR, wrote in an Oct. 31 statement. “One or two referrals [were made] to INS during that two day period last week.”

The ward has one labor nurse and one delivery nurse on duty at all times.

According to the press release, RMCHCS has been working to recruit additional labor and delivery nurses, and the hospital made the decision to perform deliveries, for a brief period, only in the emergency department until a staffing solution was worked out.

When asked if RMCHCS had hired more nurses since the temporary closure, CEO David Conejo stated they had not.

“Not at this point, as the one [nurse] who was ill returned to work and the facility is functioning as it always has. Right now, the hospital is recruiting for nurses for a variety of positions,” he said.

Despite the referrals made during the closure, the ward is reportedly back to normal operation.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

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