For Immediate Release
December 18, 2003
SARS report highlights danger of moving nurses
Latest study adds to research showing nurses must have a say in safe conditions
This week’s interim report of Ontario’s inquiry into the SARS crisis has again reinforced the importance of good nursing conditions for patient safety, says the United Nurses of Alberta.
“Dr. David Walker’s report makes it plain that moving nurses from hospital to hospital is dangerous for patients, which is exactly what we have been saying about the Health Regions’ plans for mobility in Alberta,” says UNA President Heather Smith. “Their plan to move nurses around to ‘manage’ inadequate nurse staffing is dangerous for patients. Nurses cannot accept it.”
“Part-time/casual staff work at multiple sites, … may contribute to the spread of disease,” reports the Expert Panel struck by the Ontario government to investigate how the SARS outbreak happened.
The report also calls for boosts to regular full-time health care staffing. “The panel supports ongoing efforts to increase enrollment in key health professions. As well, we believe that at least 70% of hospital healthcare worker positions should be full-time…existing rates of casual, part-time, and agency employment are undermining efforts to ensure a stable and cohesive work place,” the report says.
“Cohesive nursing teams are essential to safe nursing care,” says Heather Smith. “Alberta has one of the lowest levels of full-time staffing in the country. Nurses should not be forced to work shifts at different facilities to try to cobble together a reasonable living. Not only is it hazardous, it is a major disincentive in nursing, and contributes to the shortage.” Only about 27% of Alberta RNs have full-time positions.
The report out of Ontario is only the latest in a spate of recent studies that say staffing conditions are critical to safety. In a report prepared for the U.S. National Research Council, the Institute of Medicine noted that an estimated 98,000 hospitalized patients die each year in the U.S. because of medical errors and points out that not paying close attention to work environments can be a threat to patient safety. “Nurse staffing levels, the knowledge and skill level of nursing staff, and the extent to which workers collaborate in sharing their knowledge and skills all affect patient outcomes and safety,” the report says.
“If you go into a hospital you want a nursing team that is experienced on your unit,” Heather Smith points out. “We know it is less safe to have a nurse who was just brought in that week to cover a staffing gap.”
The U.S. study says that the voice of nurses in patient care has diminished and that also impacts safety. “Nurses must be listened to when it comes to safe practice. Negotiating terms in the contract is the way nurses have input on safe conditions. But threats to arbitrate or legislate – impose a contract on nurses – would block nurses’ input,” Heather Smith says. “That’s an unwise management practice that will not work. Nurses will not be silenced,” she said.
-30-
Copies of the interim Ontario Report and the U.S. report are available via email or fax from UNA. Contact Keith Wiley, Communications Officer at 425-1025, keith@una.ab.ca
For more information or comment: Heather Smith, President of UNA 425-1025, 940-9974 (cell)
| 
