By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The loss of a full-time relief nursing position at the Davidson Health Centre last month was a blow, but it was more than that.

For the remaining nurses, it was the last straw.

“We’re just in crisis out here,” said registered nurse Lyndsay Cross, speaking to Davidson town council at its regular meeting Tuesday night.

She and colleague Krista Alexander visited as a delegation to voice their concerns. Joining them was Audrey Hamm, who is both the senior registered nurse (RN) and a town councillor.

They told council that they learned the week of July 19 that a vacant, full-time relief position at the Davidson Health Centre — used to accommodate planned absences for other nurses — would not be filled.

“They abolished that position, so it’s completely gone,” said Cross.

This reduces the number of nurses working in Davidson by one, and according to the nurses, it will make a bad situation even worse.

The nurses said staffing levels at the facility are insufficient, to the point that they are concerned for the safety and health of patients and themselves.

“We’re trying to keep our heads above water,” said Cross. “It’s not even safe. . . All of us are burnt out.”

Since July, Davidson’s health centre staff is comprised of five full-time nurses and two part-time (0.71 FTE) nurses.

Cross said the nurses are routinely working overtime, stretching 12-hour shifts to 14 or 15 hours, trying to ensure a more even workload, and not wanting to abandon their colleagues or patients.

“Every shift, we stay overtime, because we’re helping the next guy out,” she said, noting that the nurses collectively logged roughly 300 hours of overtime in May, June and July, for which they were paid double.

Cross said this will only increase since the relief position was cut in July, and that the nurses end up working far more hours than they want.

She said she and her colleagues are mentally and physically exhausted, adding that they don’t expect the situation to improve.

For the full story, please see the Aug. 22 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.