“Overworked, underpaid, and undervalued.”
This is how one registered nurse (RN), who preferred to remain anonymous, has described her experience. She is still waiting to hear from one of the regional health authorities for employment.
But with her patience wearing thin, she has decided to apply for positions in both Canada and the UK.
She said, “A lot of nurses question why they even got into nursing in the first place. The burnout is real.”
“The hours you are on shift – some eight, some twelve, depending on where you work – are long and tedious with hardly any breaks. In the morning, especially on a heavy ward with very dependent patients, sometimes you will be lucky if you get a water break and to use the bathroom.
"For lunch, it’s just a quick bite to eat and back out on the ward. Sometimes you forget to eat because you are so caught up with work.”
In a candid interview, the nurse said on a regular day, when the day shift takes over, they must be briefed on the status of the patients from the night-shift nurses.
“This can take a while depending on the workload of the night staff.
"After this, the morning shift checks on patients, makes notes and deals with patients’ needs in order of priority. The area is tidied, bed baths are done if they weren’t and linens are changed."
Then they have to administer medication before breakfast is served. Those who need help get it from nursing assistants or students. They also try to change any dressings the patient needs before visiting hours.
"You may get a break if you aren’t caught up with other tasks depending on the patient’s category and the workload of the ward as some wards are busier than others.
"We also try to tend to whatever needs or requests the patients may have during this time. Around midday, we start to prepare for afternoon medication administration and to serve lunch.
"Varying hygiene needs are also met around this time and feeding whoever has to be fed. This must be finished before 1 pm, when the evening staff comes in for their shift.”
And, this is only part of a nurse's duties. They must also carry patients for procedures or tests, bring them back safely, constantly update the patient's notes, do multiple diaper changes, catheter emptying, among others, depending on the needs of the patient on the ward.
Nurses' needs not met
She also said management also treated staff without consideration. She said often times they are told nothing can be done so the RN on the ward just has to "figure it out" when there is one of them to a ward.
"That can be a risk for patient safety," she said, while admitting that there was a nursing shortage around the world.
But, she added, "TT has numerous nurses sitting at home awaiting employment only to be told they will be called. Meanwhile, the wards are short-staffed.”
She added said the lack of resources needed for patient care can also leave nurses feeling disillusioned.
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