Image from NBNU report
The New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU) has released a report from a survey conducted last June.
The goal of the survey was to check on Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners to see how they are faring.
More than 4,000 nurses responded to the survey, and results illustrated 91.73 per cent believe the quality of healthcare overall has gotten worse over the last three years.
“85.33 per cent of nurses say they even have trouble taking entitled and much needed sick leave,” said Cathy Rogers, research and education officer for NBNU.
The report outlines data from the Horizon and Vitalité health networks. It shows that nurses are working more overtime.
“In just six months, nurses worked over 292,000 hours of overtime. That’s an equivalent to 97.5 person-years,” mentioned Rogers.
“The situation has likely worsened since the data was collected with higher numbers of nurses leaving, increased COVID-related hospitalizations, and increased protocols,” continued Rogers.
In the face of nursing shortages, mental and physical health has declined.
“The nurses have insufficient time for much-needed recuperation because they are working so short-staffed, they are working the 16 and 24-hour shifts,” said NBNU President, Paula Doucet.
Doucet mentioned the province was faced with shortages and challenges before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now that we are two years into a pandemic all of the cracks and breaks in the system are all out in front of everyone to see.”
Doucet added there is a need for a massive recruitment and retention effort to address the shortage and poor working conditions.
“There needs to be a commitment to invest in healthcare and nursing to ensure that we continue to maintain a level of experience in our system so that we can mentor and be a guide for those who are coming in as nurses.”
It is important to note that the survey was done before the union represented Licensed Practical Nurses.
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Health Minister Dorothy Shephard Responds To NBNU Report
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard thinks focusing of recruitment and retention is one way to help provincial nurses.
Speaking in Saint John on Wednesday, Shephard said she thinks the solution is multi-faceted adding there isn’t one thing that will fix it.
“If we like every other province had the ability to inject 25 per cent more nurses into our system, that would be wonderful. Like all other provinces, we have to be methodical about our path forwards and get results for what we do,” Shephard said.
She understand the nurses like all medical professionals just want to be able to treat their patients in a timely manner and staffing shortages and working conditions have an impact on their ability to do that.
“No one get into this industry, very much like nursing home employees, no one gets into this without a dedication to care. I know that is what they want to do,” Shephard said.
Shephard said she is open to using the provincial surplus to help alleviate the nursing shortage but, the decision is ultimately up to cabinet.
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