The only hospital in the Northern Marianas has an acute shortage of nurses.
A total of 25 nurses is needed at the Commonwealth Health Center on Saipan to alleviate a shortage that our correspondent says that is now impacting on services.
Currently the hospital has 167 full-time nurses, including staff at its two satellite health centers on Tinian and Rota.
The problem will get worse next month when another 2 nurses leave.
The lack of nurses is causing a blowout in overtime payments for the hospital which for years has struggled with financial shortfalls.
