As nurses we live change. Crushing workloads, increased patient acuity, accidents and injuries, harassment and violence, management restructuring schemes are but a few of the signposts of workplace change. As women, we live change. The double-burden of family and work, eldercare, increased responsibility for family health, single parenting, unemployed spouses and unemployed children are but a few of our changing and challenging personal realities. We'll share our experiences, make connections and discuss strategies for building a workplace and society, which is more equitable and just.
Nursing education offers little insight in dealing with nurses with addictions.
Crushing workloads, stress and diminished staffing levels mean every nurse must be present and able to do their work. Our workplaces are graphic scenes of short-staffing, high stress and low moral. Nurses are getting sick, being injured and working crippling overtime hours. It is an undisputed fact that nurses are leaving the profession in unprecedented numbers and that those remaining are wracking up increased sick usage, disability insurance claims and WCB claims. Individual instances of injury and illness have multiplied.