Editor,
The P.E.I. Nurses’ Union is strongly urging government and the Health P.E.I. Board to reconsider their approach to implementation of the new model of care.
It is approaching the one-year anniversary since the roll out of this new initiative for our health care system. The government promoted this plan as the cure for what is ailing the P.E.I. health system.
The new model was meant to maximize health care professionals to their full scopes of practice while maintaining current budgets and offering high quality patient care.
The government is a long way from reaching its goals.
Currently, the units which have implemented the new model continue to struggle with the constant changes in their work environments and roles. On all affected units, there has been a reduction in RN positions, leaving fewer RNs on the floor to care for patients.
So far, over 40 RN positions have been lost to the system as a result of the implementation of the model.
What has this meant for the staff working on the unit?
It has meant crippling workloads, increased responsibilities for the RNs, difficulty in filling shifts, nurses feeling pressure to work overtime, increased sick time, and even some resignations of RNs.
Our members have voiced their concerns about the level of patient care and patient safety.
These nurses are finding that the increased responsibility, created by the model, takes away from patient care.
The Nurses’ Union is aware that there is a need for all health care professionals to work collaboratively in the system.
However, in order for this collaboration to occur safely and effectively, so that this new model can be sustained, government has to stop deleting RN positions.
Mona O’Shea, RN
PEI Nurses’ Union President
