Staff shortages, nurse-to-patient ratios and rising levels of stress and burnout were a few common themes heard by BC Nurses Union president Adriane Gear, during a recent tour through rural health care facilities in the Kootenays.
Gear made stops at hospitals and health care facilities up in the Elk Valley and into the West Kootenays to hear first-hand about the issues facing nursing in rural communities.
Efforts are underway to establish and implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, which has a different context between major urban centres and smaller rural communities.
Gear says the province is experiencing a critical nurse shortage, with approximately 6,000 vacancies across the province.
"We know that due to staffing levels, we're seeing emergency room diversions and closures, even if it's just for a night," Gear said, referencing a recent overnight closure of the Creston Valley Hospital emergency department due to a nurse shortage.
Gear says that staffing shortages are causing added stress as nurses feel pressure to "go the extra mile" in order to maintain services.
"There's certainly an abundance of overtime and nurses do what they can to pick it up to help the system but it's really quite excessive and my members are telling me that they're just really tired and very much looking forward to a future where we have minimum nurse-patient ratios not only established but implemented," Gear said.
In an effort to boost rural retention and recruitment, the province recently announced a program that provides an $8.000 financial boost to nurses working in select rural communities.
The rural retention initiative extends to communities such as Elkford, Spawood, Fernie, Invermere, Golden and Creston, however, Cranbrook and Kimberley were noticeably absent from the list.
A petition bearing over 1,000 signatures is circulating online, seeking the inclusion of Cranbrook and Kimberley into that rural retention initative.
One concern is that nurses from Cranbrook and Kimberley may migrate to other communities in the region that are included in the program.
One Cranbrook-based nurse campaigning for the inclusion of Cranbrook and Kimberley in the program, says the incentive is important not just for recruitment but also to retain staff who have been "breaking their backs and minds to provide the best care they can under dire circumstances."
Other regional communities being included in the initiative will also affect Cranbrook and Kimberley's ability to meet nurse-to-patient ratios, the nurse added.
"It is imperative that we recruit and especially retain nurses in our area," she said. "We need the nurses in the positions to make Ratios a reality. It is significant for us as rural nurses as we have seen long-term shortages and anything that could draw nurses out of our area is very concerning."
Gear said the rural retention initiative was a "good news story" while acknowledging the petition's concerns for Cranbrook and Kimberley.
"This is an investment. You can argue whether or not it's a big enough one," Gear said. "Does it do enough to retain and recruit nurses? Maybe not, but it's an acknowledgement and it is a good news story. But unfortunately some people have been left out and they feel devalued so I'm hopeful that we can work with the ministry but I can't guarantee any outcomes."
Other challenges and feedback Gear heard on her tour included security issues at rural facilities when there's typically not a lot of staff present, or where police response times may take longer.
Wildfires are also a major concern, not just as a direct threat to a health care facility, but also as an added psychological weight. Gear described how some nurses could look out the window at the Sparwood Health Centre last year and see the Lladnar Creek wildfire burning, while trying to manage their duties amid worrying about their own families.
"You're working short, you have your own family, you're doing the best you can as a nurse, and you're also a person and just working under that additional stress of the wildfires," Gear said.
Outside of the health care realm, other challenges exist for nurses, such as the skyrocketing cost of living — particularly in Fernie — as well as a lack of childcare services.
Gear noted the Elk Valley seemingly has a younger cohort of nurses, with a number of nurses approaching or on maternity leave yet are worried about being unable to return to the workforce — even if only part time — due to a lack of childcare services.
"They would actually be willing to work more if they had reliable childcare but that's such an unknown for people," Gear said.
