Greater Victoria nurses rally at premier's Langford office demanding end to staffing shortage
Almost 200 nurses rallied at Premier John Horgan’s constituency office Friday to demand an end to the chronic nursing shortage in B.C. hospitals and patient care facilities.
Nurses from across Greater Victoria gathered at the premier’s Langford office to call attention to the staffing shortage that they say has caused the health-care system to become unsafe. They say the staffing shortage has been ongoing for years, but the continuing pandemic has exacerbated the issue and made it worse.
“We’re here today to draw attention to the fact that there are not enough registered nurses, LPN’s (licensed practical nurses) and registered psychiatric nurses in the system to provide care to the citizens of B.C.,” said British Columbia Nurses Union South Island lobbyist Adriane Gear.
“On some shifts, we are working at half staff and that is just not acceptable.”
Gear says the staff shortage is not only a problem for acute-care nursing professionals. She says shortages exist in public health centres, long-term care and mental health facilities, as well.
“Ultimately, it’s the provincial government that has responsibility for our health-care system,” said Gear. “We’re going to need 23,000 nurses hired by 2029 to make us safe.”
Gear says staff shortages have been especially difficult for nurses currently working in emergency rooms and intensive care units in B.C. hospitals.
“They are absolutely exhausted,” said Gear. “We do not have enough ICU beds, we do not have enough critically trained nurses. Instead of having one nurse to one patient here and around the province, nurses are having to take care of multiple patients.”
Gear says because ICU nurses are having to look after more than one patient at a time, nurses may miss subtle changes to a patient’s condition and not be able to intervene in a timely fashion.
“We’ve been working short for years and it’s only gotten worse,” said Gear. “The government’s own data tells them that we need 23,000 more nurses by 2029, so what’s the plan?”
Gear says the province needs to take action by listening to B.C. nurses and offer solutions to the chronic short staffing levels. She says a first step would be for the government to address the violence against nurses that has escalated during the pandemic.
“We are facing more violence than we ever have before,” said Gear. “Nurses didn’t sign up to become punching bags, and yet that’s the reality among many of us.”
Gear says that many are forced to leave the profession due to physical and mental injury. Many more may soon leave if staffing isn’t addressed.
“One thing we want Premier Horgan to know is that nurses are exhausted and we are burnt out,” said Gear. “We need you to step up and do something. We need you to listen and we need you to take bold actions to help us.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.