This is for school: nurse breakdown

[nursecrazy]

I am a second year nursing student who is currently obtaining my education in beatiful BC! I would like to discuss the issue of the well known nursing shortage with everyone. The nursing shortage that is occurring not only Canada but nation wide is becoming a well recognized, well publicized issue that impacts everyone invovled in a health care system. Nurses are facing the greatest impact from this epidemic. Nurses are becoming overwhelmed with greater patient case loads while facing health care cutbacks that leave them with little security. By this I mean nurses (especially here in BC) are becoming "casualized". Our government is providing nurses not only with terrible work environments, but with no medical or dental coverage as well. I find it disgusting that nurses can be treated so terribly, yet no movement has been made to improve the situation. Nurses also face the inevitable burn out; becoming overworked, underpaid, and questioning why they remain in the nursing field. Patients also suffer from the shortage. They receive poor quality of care and are at risk of being recipients of various nursing errors. This is frustrating as a student, and I am beginning to see why young graduates are leaving the country to seek more enjoyable work environments (which still then contributes to the shortage!) So if you have thoughts on how to improve this situation then PLEASE respond. Also share with me your feelings toward this situation or clarify and information I have posted incorrectly. Thanks!

Nursecrazy

PS- This is for school, so please oh please respond to me

[RNsweetie]

I just did a paper on the nursing shortage and its effect on job satisfaction of nurses and how the decrease in job satisfaction (increase stress, too much overtime, less time with clients at beside because of hight nurse patient ratios, and not enough involvement in decision making processes ie autonomy) ulimatly contributes to nurses leaving the profession and ultimatly increasing or adding to the shortage.

I have to hand it in on friday. I think it went well, but we will see what the instructor has to say.

good luck

Erin

[fergus51]

Nurses have been fighting this all the way, but the Liberal government has such a large majority that they can do whatever they want. I left the province shortly after the last contract was legislated on us after we had rejected it and been through a work to rule campaign. I have no regrets. If you want full time and training in a specialty as a new grad, look to Ontario (toronto) or Alberta.