nurses’ workload

AFTER PREGNANT
patient Rhonda Alexander
complained publicly last
manth about how stressed
and overworked nurses were
at Mills Memorial Hospital,
she hoped to pet better treat-
ment,

But itstcad of improving
her situation, Alexander said
a newspaper article only
Inade malters worse.

**Most of the nurses made
it clear thal they were of-
fended by the article,”’ she
said. ‘'Some of them were
outright rude.”’

Even a doctor was terse
with her for having spoken
out, she said,

‘tention she received to give

a patient’s point of view.

“We spoke out because
no-one else was,’” she said,
“At some point someone's
got to listen,”’

Alexander said she’s sur-
prised nurses and doctors
lashed out at her for com-
plaining.

“We didn’t intend to of
fend the nurses,”’ she said.
**We were supporting their
cause.”*

Some doctors and nurses

~ have spoken out abaut the

problems caused by a
shortage of nurses this sum-
mer,

Physicians have admitted
that nurses are often stressed
oul and don’t have time lo
spend quality time with all
of their paticuts.

But when Alexander com-
plained that nurses were laic
with ber medication or
treated her like she was a
burden, she was admonished
for speaking out.

“J was only supporting
what doctors have said,’’
she said. ‘‘Nurses are over-
worked and Ured and it al-

THAT'S RHONDA Alexander and son Raven, who
was born Aug. 23. Alexander says she's been criti-
cized for saying nurses at Mills Memorial Hospital are

stressed and overworked.

fects patients,”

Alexander explained that
there was only one. nurse
working on the matemity
ward the night her baby boy
was delivered.

She said the nurse was
tired and averworked since
there were six bahics bom
thal day.

“She was back and forth
all night,” Alexander said,

She said other patients feel
the same way she does, only
icy fear speaking out he-

_pital facility in Terrace.

cause Mills is the only has-

Despite her problems with
the ~ hospilal, Alexander
delivered her healthy baby
boy by Caesarean section on
August 23.

River Hevan William Fer-
ren Alexander was bor al
2:53 .pm., weighing 7.14
pounds.

Alexander did say her
doctor, Murray Crozier, and
the nurses during her
delivery, did a good job.

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MILLS MEMORIALS’S nurses’ shortage ed when a number of nurses resigned on
is over after nearly two months of limiting short notice. As well, full-and part time
adinissions now that five positions have nurses began summer holidays and there
been filled, says Tom Novak, who is over- weren’t enough nurses available who work
seeing finances at the hospital. on stand by to (ll in.

“Its pretty much back to normal,”’? Despite the five new hires, admissions
Novak said. ‘‘We’re hiring nurses from were once again restricted lastweek when a
B.C, and other parts in Canada.” number of nurses were sick, Novak said.

But there will still be days where patient ‘“It was temporary,”’ he said. ‘'We were
admissions will be limited duc toa lack of al capacity and we couldn’t allow any more

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together invites you to

nursing staff, he added. in.”? “ + 5),
Novak said almost all the vacant aursing | Novak admitted there will still be days f O”"d d S O Wee t AVI Ss

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alleviating admission restrictions pul in bospital has a full complement of staff on ANNIVERSARY

place in mid July. hand. | “ i

A lack of nurses caused the hospital to = Decisions to limit or free wp admissions
limit: the number of available beds for will be dealt with on a day to day basis as
patients on its main medical ward to [5 opposed lo looking at a week’s span, he

when the nursery was open and to 20 when — said,
it was closed, — “"We evaluate it every day,’ he said, "T
Novak said the nurses shortage was creat- like lo runan efficient but safe operation.”

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