Montreal City Weblog

Kate 18:13 on 2020-08-21 Permalink Reply  

• david192 18:42 on 2020-08-21 Permalink

  Say what you will about the wisdom of their decisions, it takes a lot to walk away from a career, financial security, and the rest.

• Michael Black 18:59 on 2020-08-21 Permalink

  It was an existing issue. It was in the news last summer, mandatory overtime. I asked one nurse about it, she said “my kids won’t let me”. Another nurse came most mornings at 6am, but one Sunday she appeared in the afternoon. I assumed she’d changed shifts, so I asked “you like this better?” And she said yes. The next morning she was there at 6am once again. A really long shift. It happened again a few weeks later.

  Another nurse, I guess somewhat higher in the hierarchy, ended up doing some weekend shifts after her week shift, to fill in.

  They really are very independent, capable, and problem solvers.

• Kate 20:28 on 2020-08-21 Permalink

  david∞ – it’s possible some are only walking out on the public sector. There’s demand from private companies for qualified nurses.

• Élize Du Pauer 22:30 on 2020-08-21 Permalink

  Maybe Aaron Derfel scared them away?

• david192 03:21 on 2020-08-22 Permalink

  I think you have to be right about that, the numbers cited are out of sight and would represent a catastrophe for the profession. But the article focused on women who just straight up wanted out, with no real plan other than that, or so it seemed to me. Not an easy choice.

• dwgs 09:28 on 2020-08-22 Permalink

  Our friend who is an ICU nurse at the Jewish came very close to quitting. She was going to take a few months off to recover and wasn’t worried about finding another position. Management started giving out some days off just in the nick of time.

• steph 08:45 on 2020-08-23 Permalink

  I’m shocked by how toxic their work environment is.

• Kate 10:29 on 2020-08-23 Permalink

  Nurses are expected to work extra hours all the time, on demand. Who else would put up with this kind of stress?

  My sister was a nurse, and I have two friends who also have sisters who are nurses. They are not easy people to deal with, because they learn on the job how to both manipulate and browbeat other people into doing what they want. And they learn this because it’s been done to them.

  I couldn’t do that job for five minutes.

• jeather 13:34 on 2020-08-23 Permalink

  I had to be in the ICU at the Jewish around the end of spring and I was really touched by the kindness of all the nursing staff.

• Kate 13:37 on 2020-08-23 Permalink

  My impression is that nurse behaviour to patients and their families can differ a great deal from their behaviour to family, friends and partners. Not saying that this is universal, but I’ve seen it in the 3 examples I mention.

• mare 14:54 on 2020-08-23 Permalink

  Nurses in Quebec have no bargaining power to change their work situation. You’d think the nursing union can call a strike but they can’t because they’re essential workers. There is a minimum staffing level required and guess what: they’re below that minimum in (almost?) all workplaces at all times. So quitting is their only recourse to signal that their work situation is terrible. But that of course makes the situation worse for their remaining colleagues.

  Long hours, low pay and chronic understaffing. Currently aggravated with serious health risks and the resulting extra stress.
  All factors interconnected in a self-perpetuating way, impossible to be changed without political will. We can call them heroes all we want, it doesn’t change a thing.

  Maybe it’s time to wear camo outfits and red face masks.

• Uatu 15:13 on 2020-08-23 Permalink

  The nurses union sold out their members when they didn’t follow through on their strike back in the 90s when union head Jennie Skene caved to Lucien Bouchard. Why? Who knows? Maybe he promised something that would happen after his next referendum in the new independent QC. All I know is that all my family members and friends who were nurses were rightfully pissed and those who could retire or quit did with disgust at their own Union.