She hand not to put the lives of patients in danger

Photo david prince
Anik Henri does not exclude a return as a registered nurse, but there is a need for conditions to change, ” she says.

David Prince

Monday, January 8, 2018 01:00

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Monday, January 8, 2018 01:00

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ROUYN-NORANDA | Incensed taking a risk with the health of his patients, a nurse in the Abitibi decided to leave the job ” that she loves “.

In 11-year career at the hospital of Rouyn-Noranda, Anik Henri had never imagined one day leaving his job as a nurse.

But in the past few months, she says that working conditions have deteriorated to the point where patient safety is in danger.

In the surgery unit where she worked until the 23rd of December last, it says that 26 of the 47 nurses are on sick leave or maternity leave.

The management requires, therefore, more and more often, according to her, the nurses to do mandatory overtime.

This measure provided for in the collective agreement requires nurses to work shifts of 16 hours, instead of eight.

“Before, this type of measurement was really exceptional. It happened a few times per year only in the department as a whole. But now, it is regular. In mid-December, in 36 hours, five nurses were forced to work shifts of 16 hours, ” said the nurse of 45 years.

Crying

In the past few months, it has seen several work colleagues to tears after having been forced to make shift double.

“We manage to make us believe it is we who have a problem and that change is resisted. Ben see, this is not me who will bear all the woes of the health care system ! The problem is not that we resist change, but that it doesn’t look great “, she said.

According to Ms. Henry, the managers are not in bad faith, but they are in a system where there are cuts everywhere and they can’t do otherwise.

Ms. Henry has, therefore, resigned, and has redirected his career. She has had to say goodbye to his pension fund and its benefits, and must live with a wage decrease.

“But I have peace and I am not afraid to miss something because I’m too tired “, she said.

Several messages

At the time of her resignation, she issued a cry from the heart on Facebook.

Since then, Ms. Henri said to have received hundreds of messages from nurses throughout the province who say they are also exhausted by the difficult working conditions.

“It is not true that after 16 hours, it is also alert. The risks of error are greatest and I don’t want to endorse this way of doing our work. I see that the situation is not unique to the Abitibi. It is widespread and it is very a pity, because the nursing profession is one of the most beautiful “, she said.

The health Centre had not been recalled by The Newspaper.