Source: Northumberland Today
by Karen Truter RN
December 8, 2008
On Oct. 22, the government of Ontario declared it is delaying the hiring of 9,000 nurses and the addition of 50 Family Health Teams promised in Bill 97 as part of the “restraint initiative” to cope with the economic slump.
This decision concerns me not only as a Registered Nurse (RN) but, in addition, as a citizen of Ontario. According to the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), there is already a shortage of 10,000 nurses in this province, compared to the rest of the country.
Never before has the need for more nurses been more crucial than in this time of economic crisis, the increasing age of the population, and an ever-shrinking number of doctors.
I believe the distinct value and unique work of the nurse is generally poorly understood; we all expect the nurse to be at our bedside in hospital, yet there are many other areas that the RN is critical to our wellness.
Historically, the nurse has been the backbone of healthcare. From the days of Florence Nightingale, the nurse has worked tirelessly for the sick and dying and it remains to this day an honour and privilege to nurture and care for people in this way.
In the 21st century, however, nursing has become much more. Educated at university-degree level, the registered nurse provides the first line of assessment both in the hospital and clinic setting and in the home. Working with the doctor and multidisciplinary team, the nurse ensures that the planned care is provided.
As an advocate for the public, the nurse speaks up for those who cannot speak for themselves, not only for the sick but for the well, through teaching and public awareness programs for healthy living. In recent years, academic qualifications at the Master’s and doctorate level have enabled the nurse to be influential.
Nurse Practitioners (NP) are registered nurses with advanced education and decision-making skills to diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries. They are equipped to work in their own clinics, and prescribe medications and order x-rays. As doctors retire in our community, the employment of Nurse Practitioners may be the way forward.
The recent closure of a local walk-in clinic due to the lack of doctors being available indicates the need to address the challenge of providing adequate health care in our community in new and innovative ways.
Our nurses are working under stress every day to provide excellent care; their numbers are dwindling with the wave of retirements and the difficulty in recruiting to fill these vacancies. The government of Ontario’s delay in providing the province with the numbers of nurses it needs to function safely and responsibly is already adversely affecting our nurses as they work more and more overtime.
At this time of year, it is the season of giving to one another, may I make the suggestion that we consider the Light up a Life campaign in our local hospital and say “thank you” to our nurses who will be working through Christmas and the New Year around the clock to provide excellent care to our loved ones. Why not light up the life of a nurse with a donation in their name?
Karen Truter RN, CON(C), CHPCN(C) / Cobourg
depressed. Many students expressed feelings of anger, resentment, loneliness, loss and despair. In an informal online poll concerning the strike, 49 per cent of 338 students who took part said they thought they were depressed (
