Nurses union remains concerned over RN cuts

Members of the P.E.I. Nurses Union continue to call for the province to slow down implementation of a new model of care in Island hospitals.

'They'll not see registered nurses bedside.' — P.E.I. Nurses Union president Mona O'Shea

The members attended a meeting Wednesday night with Health Department officials to learn more details about the province's new model of care. The union says under that model, 17.5 full-time equivalent nursing jobs have been eliminated at four sites across the province:

• Kings County Memorial Hospital in Montague.
• Unit 3 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.
• Prince County Hospital Surgery in Summerside.
• Wedgewood Manor in Summerside.

It appears more registered nurse positions could be eliminated as the province moves to a new way of delivering health care, in which more nursing work is done by licensed practical nurses and others.

"It will see less registered nurses at the bedside for sure," said union president Mona O'Shea.

"They will see patient-care co-ordinators … or resident care workers working at the bedside now. They'll not see registered nurses bedside."

O'Shea said nurses are also concerned they may need extra training to be part of the new model of care, and patients will need more education on who they'll be seeing at the bedside.

"Registered nurses are currently being faced with significant changes with this new implementation of model of care," she said.

Education is required to ensure patient safety, she said.

Government told the nurses at the meeting nobody would be out of work, but some could be reassigned.

O'Shea said everyone needs more time to adjust and understand what government is trying to do.