Let’s Be Heard

Any of us out here that work in healthcare know all too well that we are short staffed.  Some places more than others but the reality is that it is happening and many of us if not all of us are extremely sick of it.   We work short almost on the daily in most areas, even when we have enough staff according to the organizations standards and maybe even government standards it is very clear to anyone working that the numbers are still lacking.

Many folks are sick of being mandated, especially after you probably have just finished a 12hr shift and or an 8hr shift and were most likely working short that entire time, then only to find out you will be mandated to do more hours.  It’s hard on a person, it’s also hard enough working an entire shift with the constant thought process of “am I going to be mandated “ but also finding out about the mandate only a short time before the end of your actual shift.  That is extremely difficult to have to experience and or even watch it happen to coworkers.   Even if it’s not you, you can’t help but feel for those that “had” to stay because as you walk to your car you know all to well that your time is coming.  This is just one thing that staff working in healthcare have to deal with pretty much on the daily.  The work load never changes when you are working short in fact on lots of those days much more is expected.  It doesn’t make sense but that is the reality.  Even though working short seems to be the norm some organizations do a better job at filling the shift then others and that is also a truthful reality.  There is lots of talk out there about travel nurses and or agency staff.  The truth of the matter is that when we are facing shortages and an employer steps up and fills these shifts with agency nurses, we as the regular employees welcome them with open arms and are so happy to see them.  They become part of the family, they saved us from further exhaustion.

The company and or organization mostly pays more and we all know that, but how long can you exhaust your own staff before you make the decision to pay for agency.  Your staff are already tired both emotionally and physically so just do us a favour and not exhaust your staff anymore than what we already are.   When is enough just simply enough? When will you as an organization just stop and start staffing appropriately.  You can not possibly go into a shift at minimal requirements and then expect to stay a float when sick calls come in.

Sicks calls in healthcare are at an all time high.  People are mentally drained and physically drained that it is extremely difficult for staff to show up sometimes just for their regular scheduled shifts.  Even on your days off , you’re tired and just trying to recover from your shifts, that when it’s time to go back your mind and body just isn’t prepared.  This is just the result of constantly working at minimum numbers.  Good staff are burning out and it seems that the folks at  the top tier just don’t care.  That’s pretty strong to say but honestly if they did care then why in hell is it happening.  Enough is enough.

Staff use to take pride in the organization they work for.  But the organization changed the way staff feel about the name on the front of the building.

Staff are there for the residents, we are there for the families and we are there for each other.  As an organization I would think that knowing this would make you folks sitting in corporate office be ashamed to know that the folks working for you are so unhappy.  You would think that they would make it a point to come down and talk to their employees face to face and actually hear directly from them about their concerns about their struggles.  I mean if I was the founder and CEO of an organization and found out that my employees were so upset and unhappy I honestly don’t think I could just sit back and watch all that happen, how could anyone.

Staff were under the impression that things would improve when moving to a newer facility, one with so called state of the art technology.  But the reality is that it went from bad to worse.

The residents got a better place to live and have a nice home and a room that is theirs and not shared.  They have have more space.  But let me ask the question to the name on the building, how is bigger better when you aren’t providing the right amount of staff to care for the increased number of residents and not to mention coverage of this new found space.

Staff are excited and happy for the residents, but this new gain for our residents has come a a huge cost to the staff members working in the building.

Organizations ( not all ) are happy to work with the minimal numbers for money most likely.  I don’t know the reason for certain but I can only think that it saves them a dollar but truly at what cost.

So many changes and not many of those changes are a positive one for the folks who actually have work there.

First they change shifts, then make you pick a line by order of seniority.  Part time jobs gone, folks informed that even though they worked 8hr shifts for years that was about to change.  But don’t worry, cause things will be better. Yup 👍. Is it better?

Then you pick a line and only to be told that “ you don’t own your line , you own the hours”. This is usually told when they are about to make a change. A change that will have a negative impact on the current team and or a negative impact on an employee’s personal life, but I’m sure in the end the company will benefit greatly somehow and somewhere.

I think it’s time that we the employees stand strong and stand together.  We need to send a message to top management and let them know what is actually happening and how we feel.  It’s not just the staff, families of these residents are also not happy and we the staff along with the families need to get the  owners of the company to hear us out.

This doesn’t have to be a argumentative meeting, but it needs to happen so we as staff and family members can sit down together with you the owners and have a respectful, honest conversation about what is not working.

They can’t shy away from this anymore.  We need to advocate for our residents and what they deserve.  We need to advocate for staff as well as we can no longer continue like this.  Enough is enough.

Residents deserve better

Families deserve better

We as staff deserve better

Lots of LTC Facilities have bad reputations.  Folks on the outside are so quick to put blame on the people that work there but they have no idea what staff are faced with.  The challenges and lack of help from the ones that actually “run” the place.

Next time you drive by a LTC Facility, think about the people working on the inside.  If you notice that the staff parking lots of these place are lacking vehicles don’t just assume a bunch of us carpooled to work that day because we didn’t.  We most definitely are probably working short.  And trust me if there is an abundance of vehicles we probably just have some students with us for a short time.

The owners of these places need to come and sit down with us and talk.  We need to unite and invite families to also be part of the conversation.  Staff consider families to be part of the team.  And instead of pointing fingers at each other, let’s join hands and stand together.  Let’s send a message to the owners and let our voices be heard.  I suppose if that doesn’t work we can talk to our local MLA.  A local paper.  If they don’t want to hear us I am certain that there is someone out there that would love to hear our story.

If you agree I would ask that you take time and share this post and also take a few minutes to consider leaving a comment.  Strength in numbers.  I will ask that you remain respectful and do not mention names of organizations, management You can simply say “ Agree, Enough is Enough “ Please be respectful.  But let’s share this post and hopefully it will actually reach the people that need to read it.  Also this post may be seen by a family member that also agrees and folks we need all the support we can get for change to happen.  Change that is going to have a positive impact on residents and their families as well as us the staff.

Enough is Enough

It is time for them to listen

Thanks for reading and sharing if you choose😊

Rhonda

There’s G2B a better way/itsnowornever.ca