*Nurses from across the province gather in Victoria to demand government
address health-care crisis*
As two public health emergencies continue to play out in BC’s health-care
system, nurses are using their voices this National Nursing Week to
highlight long-standing problems that are impacting their mental health and
patient care.
“BC nurses don’t feel like celebrating this week,” says BCNU President Aman
Grewal. “Instead, hundreds have travelled to Victoria from communities
across the province with a somber message that the health-care system is
buckling under the pressure. Enough is enough. We need action now.”
On Monday evening, BCNU is hosting a “Vigil to Heal Heath Care” to give
nurses, first responders and family members a unique opportunity to share
in their grief and reflect on the overwhelming impact the last few years
have had on communities and the health-care system.
Grewal says 82 percent of BCNU members surveyed last year said their mental
health has worsened over the pandemic.
“The act of holding a dying patient’s hand while they lay intubated and
alone or balancing an iPad so family members can say their final good-byes
is something that stays with you,” says Grewal. “It’s had a profound impact
on our members, and they are not allowed to share this reality openly.”
To highlight the mental and physical toll the staffing crisis is having on
nurses, BCNU is sharing five nurses’ stories anonymously. Hear their
stories firsthand by visiting HelpBCNurses.ca
<https://trk.cp20.com/click/cemw-2j98yo-2sbkp0-igxf32y6/>
On Tuesday afternoon nurses will be taking their message to the provincial
government with a rally on the steps of the BC Legislature. Staffing
concerns, working conditions and patient care will be top of mind for those
at the event.
To arrange an interview, please email media@bcnu.org.
