File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Nursing Shortage

Three nurses in emergency: opposition MLAs press health minister on RIH nursing shortage

May 9, 2022 | 3:26 PM

VICTORIA — The severe nursing shortage at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops took centre stage during question period in the B.C. Legislature Monday (May 9).

Opposition MLAs from both the B.C. Liberals and Green Party described stories of nurses under extreme stress and afraid to speak out, putting Health Minister Adrian Dix on the defensive.

“The system is failing and we’re hearing that time and again today,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar. “Over the weekend, the emergency department in Clearwater was closed yet again, further impacting the emergency department in Kamloops. And so it’s no surprise the stories of crisis continue to be told at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.”

“Here’s what an emergency room physician had to say about this weekend,” he continued. “‘Yesterday evening when the night shift came on there were three E.R. nurses… coming onto the shift. All 40 beds in the department were occupied. Another 40 patients were in the waiting room. It’s so far from safe that it’s hard to remember what safe looks like.'”

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Dix touted the work the government has done since first elected in 2017, dramatically increasing both hiring and post-secondary training capacity. He added the government has more work to do in response to the extraordinary pressures brought on by duelling health crises.

“These have been exceptional and difficult moments for our healthcare system — the public health emergency that is the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health emergency that is the overdose public health emergency. Both of these have put extraordinary pressure on nurses,” said Dix.

“That’s why you’ve seen the government take — in the last number of weeks, often in consultation with the B.C. Nurses Union — I think, exceptional steps to address the need to have more nurses in our province.”

Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield quoted another social media post describing a scenario when a single licensed practical nurse (LPN) was faced with providing care for 54 patients. Green leader Sonia Furstenau asked Dix what he was going to do about the “culture of fear” fostered in the workplace that prevents nurses from coming forward and speaking out.

Dix denied that any policies in place keep nurses from speaking out publicly.

“All professionals in those health authorities have a duty to bring forward issues. They have a professional duty — one that they and we take very seriously,” said Dix. “There’s simply nothing in place that stops people from speaking out.”

CFJC Today has learned of nurses in an RIH medical ward reporting a 9-to-1 patient-to-nurse ratio.

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone summarized the situation by quoting another nurse.

“‘Feelings of moral distress, panic, sobbing, making errors and knowing it’s not only me. How many will leave because of burnout? Will it take a death or serious effect on a patient before things change? We need nurses and, instead, we’re losing them every single day,'” quoted Stone.

Dix did not address the situation at RIH directly.