After expressing concerns over the staffing levels of a merger between two nursing units at Guelph General, the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) has called for an investigation of the hospital from the Independent Assessment Committee.
A release from the ONA says members met with three nursing experts on Tuesday to discuss evidence of the negative impact new registered nurse (RN) staffing levels are having on patient care.
It adds the hearing is called as a last resort when nurses and management are unable to settle workload concerns internally.
During this time, the panel will assess evidence and determine whether nurses have been assigned more work than is consistent with the provision of proper patient care. After the hearing, the release says experts will make recommendations to address any concerns.
ONA President and RN, Vicki McKenna, explains this hearing is about ensuring that the infants in the Special Care Nursery at GGH receive the quality of nursing care they need and deserve.
“Our dedicated, highly educated and skilled RNs have consistently provided written documentation to their employer outlining why inadequate RN staffing levels have impacted their ability to properly and safely care for seriously and critically ill newborns,” says McKenna in the release.
“Yet Guelph General Hospital has failed to adequately address the concerns of our members, and the RNs remain concerned, not only for the health of their patients, but about meeting their professional standards because of insufficient RN staffing levels.”
Being a highly regulated profession, McKenna goes on to say RNs must be able to meet the standards set for them by their regulatory college.
“Anything less risks patient safety and the RNs’ license to practice.”
