Nurses working double shifts, triple shifts, and on their days off are now so overwhelmed and unwell, they are unable to come to work.
Wairarapa's hospital emergency department hit an all time staffing low overnight - with only half of its required nursing staff to care for patients.
The Nurses Organisation's president, Anne Daniels, says nurses are doing more and more with less and less, but it comes at a cost.
She says there needs to be some tough conversations about how to support and encourage nurses to stay in the job.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate Lucy McLaren spoke to Corin Dann.
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