Nurses rally to highlight 'crisis' in B.C. health-care system
Hundreds of nurses took to the streets of downtown Vancouver Wednesday to call attention to what they say is a health-care system in crisis thanks, in part, to understaffing, emergency room closures and long wait times for patients to get the care they need.
“We’re always short-staffed," said Marcela Bonilla, who works as a community care nurse on the Downtown Eastside.
"There’s not enough people to help deliver safe care or proper care, or have the time to properly interact with the patient."
The march came as nurses gathered this week at the Vancouver Convention Centre to elect a bargaining committee and identify key priorities as they prepare to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
“Nurses deserve better,” said BC Nurses Union president Aman Grewal.
"Our patients in B.C. deserve better. The health-care system is in crisis and they need to listen to the nurses."
Unionized nurses have been working without a contract since March and are preparing for what could be a tense negotiaton process.
Recent nursing grads, like acute medicine RNs Anjali Sharma and Sara Van Buekenhout, have stepped into a system so desperate for their services it risks burning them out already with poor working conditions.
“They’re not great,” said Sharma. “We’re short-staffed almost everyday. We’re forced to care for six or seven patients sometimes.”
She says the standard in acute care is one to four patients per nurse.
“It’s almost a year since the federal government committed to me that we would be working together on addressing these issues,” Premier John Horgan said when asked about what the province could do to improve working conditions for nurses, and the health-care system in general.
“The federal government needs to be at the table. We need to have a national plan.”
But when formal negotiations get underway with the BCNU, the feds won’t be at the table and it will be up to the province to come up with ideas and solutions – and ways to pay for them – if it wants to avoid job action on the part of nurses.
“I do know Minister Dix has been working tirelessly, we’re creating more spaces for RNs, we’re bringing in more care aides, a range of other hires and improvements in recognizing foreign credentials,” Horgan said.
For young nurses like Sharma and Van Buekenhout, it’s vital the province find a way to do more – and faster.
“Otherwise, I think a lot of nurses are going to leave the profession,” said Van Buekenhout.
And that would exacerbate problems for a health-care system that already appears to be in critical condition.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.