Just received the following press release from the RNAO:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 16, 2001
High patient satisfaction excellent news, but nurses paying the price; outcomes confirm problems with chronic nursing shortage
TORONTO - Hidden behind the good news that almost 90 per cent (89%) of patients in Ontario rated their nursing care as excellent or good is the high cost that nurses often pay to provide that care, the executive director of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) said in response to today's release of the Hospital Report 2001: Acute Care.
"We are pleased - though not surprised - that patients rate nursing care so highly," said Doris Grinspun. "It confirms the continued commitment that registered nurses have to providing high-quality patient care," said Grinspun. "But that level of care all too often comes at a significant cost to nurses struggling to provide the best care they can while working in short-staffed hospital units across the province."
Grinspun said it is important to pay equal attention to the high level of burnout and absenteeism that accompanies nurse-patient ratios in Ontario - the second worst in Canada. The reality is that overtime hours have skyrocketed and sick time is higher than ever. Indeed, Ontario spends close to $134 million a year in overtime hours, and close to $50.5 million in clearly related sick time. "These are the hidden human and financial costs," said Grinspun.
The fact that almost one-third of patients complained that their call buttons were not answered promptly confirms RNAO's diagnosis of a chronic nursing shortage.
"We have always said the quality of care is excellent; the quantity insufficient," said RNAO President Shirlee Sharkey. "It is crucial for the public, government and employers to understand that good nursing equals good health," she said.
Sharkey said that research clearly shows that nurse-patient ratios directly affect the rates of complications and re-admissions, two areas of concern in this year's report card. A greater number of RNs leads to lower patient infections and lower re-admissions. As well, readmission rates are adversely affected by the lack of nurses available to provide adequate follow-up care in the community, she said.
Sharkey said these - and other results - included in the 2001 report card would most certainly be improved with additional nursing positions. She acknowledged that progress has been made recently in this area, but Ontario still has a long way to go to reach the national average of nurses-per-capita.
For more information, please contact:
Sine MacKinnon, Director of Communications, R.N.A.O.
