This is for school: READ ME!

[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

[fergus51]

I don't know what to tell you. The casual jobs are insanely stupid and frustrating, but at least in BC part timers and casuals still get benefits, unlike here in Ontario. There have been moves to improve nurse recruitment and retention. I would encourage you to look around at some new grad programs. Lion's Gate in north Van was offering a mentorship program and several hospitals will pay for nurses to take specialty courses from BCIT in return for working in their hospital. There are also loan forgiveness programs, and if you want full time, you just have to look up North.

As far as staffing ratios.... It's very individual. I really think a lot of places in BC have it much better than they think. The equivalent units in some other places are waaaaaaayyyyyyy worse.