Prince George Nurses To Rally Today

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 09:34 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Nurses and their supporters plan to rally "for safe patient care" outside of this afternoon's Northern Health board of directors meeting.

A news release issued by the B.C. Nurses' Union, says nurses at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. have attempted to warn the Northern Health Authority over the past two years of patient risks and of the fact that nurses' professional standards of practise are being compromised.

The BCNU says the local nurses have filed over 250 documents, called Professional Responsibility Forms, and submitted them to management. Union President, Debra McPherson says, "As members have begun to speak out on behalf of safe care in their community, the BC Nurses' Union is increasingly concerned about the employer's efforts to intimidate the healthcare workers."

Posters adverstising today's rally were put up in UHNBC, listing some of the nurses' concerns. Northern Health Chief Operating Officer, Michael McMillan, sent a memo to UNHBC staff and physicians addressing "misinformation that is circulating on BCNU posters that have recently appeared within UNHBC."

McMillan says with regards to the statement that "the Board of Northern Health refused local nurses the opportunity" to voice their concerns, he says NH Board policy is clear on these types of requests and states that "Northern Health employees generally do not make presentations to the Board during the public presentations portion of the meeting unless requested to do so." The NH COO says the group was invited to book a meeting with CEO Cathy Ulrich and McMillan to bring forward their concerns.

In closing, McMillan says "We believe that our staff and physicians work very hard to provide exceptional care to Northerners. Staff and physicians have mechanisms to bring forward patient safety concerns and encourage that all concerns be raised through the appropriate channels."

The rally is set for 1pm this afternoon at 325 Brunswick Street.

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Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 09:34 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Headshake on October 20 2010 12:08 PM

Nurses have my eternal support. Thank you for everything you do for us, even when some people are too blind to appreciate it.

Posted by: He spoke on October 20 2010 12:31 PM

Registered Nurses are very important components to our health care system and they need to be respected for their work and education.... $33 - $40 /hr.... That is a respectable wage!

The working conditions is responsibility of the floor mangagers and senior managers and from the ivory tower down.

Posted by: univ on October 20 2010 1:11 PM

"Union is increasingly concerned about the employer's efforts to intimidate the healthcare workers"

The symptoms of Jago's mismangment is starting to show up in the Northern Health. The same complaints were raised
in UNBC during the Jago's 2nd term of administration and nothing was done. Read
Page 24-26 of the following 2003 report and replace University with Northern Health:

http://www.unbcfa.ca/pdf/Report-of-the-Task-Force-on-Collegial-Governance.pdf

"... believed that senior administration from the decanal level to the
President engaged in far too much micro-management."

"... believed that there was little in the way of ‘responsible government’ at this university"

"... they feel like they had insufficient
access to information but more than that, some felt afraid to raise questions."

"... members said that they felt silenced and dis-empowered. Others believed consultative processes were empty whereby
faculty were asked for their ideas and then ignored."

History repeats itself and Jago learns nothing of his own history in Prince George. One wonders why the board assigns a history guy to chair the health sector? and why his contract is renewed for another 3 years despite poor performance?

Is a strike looming in the horizon?

Posted by: onemansthoughts on October 20 2010 2:59 PM

Just pay them more, that will solve all the problems.WE need candy stripers again.

Posted by: Slim2229 on October 20 2010 4:41 PM

250 Complaints not dealt with, "Northern Health employees generally do not make presentations to the Board during the public presentations portion of the meeting unless requested to do so." Well perhaps the BOARD should change policy. What are they afraid of, what of transparency? Then the board can come back at a later date and tell the public what they have done to address the concerns that our professional Registered nurses have told them about. It's time the board members got off their collective butts and did some work for the North. You can't keep RN's or Lab techs here because they are underpaid and nobody listens to them. They are telling the BOARD there are problems! For gawd's sake don't you realize you folks can be replaced? I hope they are, this is disgusting! RN's know just about as much as Doctors and some know more, get a grip or lose your jobs!

Posted by: thedogs on October 21 2010 7:21 AM

There are Candy strippers at the hospital they are now called junior volunteers and they do much more than the candy stripers of the old days and happen to be a wonderful bunch of kids

Posted by: thedogs on October 21 2010 7:21 AM

There are Candy strippers at the hospital they are now called junior volunteers and they do much more than the candy stripers of the old days and happen to be a wonderful bunch of kids