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Nurses Forced to Work After 12-Hour Shifts
20 Dec
Summary
- Nurses in Newfoundland's western region are mandated to work overtime.
- Hospitals face overcrowding, with patients in overflow areas.
- Essential supplies like oxygen and face cloths are critically limited.
In Newfoundland's western region, nurses are facing mandated overtime, compelling them to work additional hours immediately after completing 12-hour shifts. The Registered Nurses' Union of Newfoundland and Labrador reports that this practice has been ongoing since December 1, raising serious concerns about patient and nurse safety.
The Western Memorial Regional Hospital is reportedly overcrowded, utilizing spaces such as physiotherapy rooms, closets, and corridors for patient care. This lack of adequate space, combined with critical shortages of essential supplies like oxygen and basic hygiene items, creates an unsafe environment.
The union advocates for reduced reliance on agency nurses and calls for a cap on nurse working hours and patient-to-nurse ratios. These measures are seen as crucial to ensuring safe staffing levels and mitigating the current crisis.
