Staff shortages at a Dublin hospital are forcing nurses to use baby monitors to keep an eye on critically ill patients.

Nurses at St Vincent’s University Hospital are using the monitors to watch two intensive care beds as they do not have enough staff to cover the unit.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said the situation highlights the unsafe staffing levels across the health service.

A new survey, launched by the organisation this morning, finds that 90% of nurses face mental exhaustion and 68% are considering leaving the profession.

The survey of over 1,905 nurses and midwives found that 85% believe their experience of the COVID pandemic has had a negative psychological impact on them.

One-in-five contracted the virus – with more than half of those suffering long-term effects.

INMO Head of Education and Professional Development, Steve Pitman told Newstalk that the baby monitors in use at St Vincent's highlight the situation facing the health service.

“I think it is shocking,” he said. “I think you can see that from the reports that have come out.

“This is not something that nurses want to do. This is a reaction to cope with a situation. Highly skilled, highly trained intensive care nurses are concerned about the situation.

“It just highlights the crisis in terms of staffing.”

These patients and visitors at St Vincent's said the nurses need to be better supported.

“They deserve all the support they can get and the country can well afford to pay and buy equipment or whatever is needed – no problem, we are a rich country,” said one.

“If you are to nurse a person properly in bed it takes a lot of time. But you always know there is someone else waiting on you so you are pushed on,” said another.

The INMO says the HSE needs to provide adequate resources to allow nurses to do their job and ensure patient safety.