Former nurse on P.E.I. talks about burnout and says the province needs to do more

As the provincelaudsa new nursing recruitment program, a nurse who recently retired says muchmore needs to be done to improve working conditions.

"It's just too stressful and too demanding," saidLinda McLaughlin, a former registered nurse.

McLaughlin worked as a nurse at the Prince Edward Home, along-term care home in Charlottetown, for more than 25 years.

She says if she was still working as a nurse her phone would be ringing constantly especially during this holiday time with pleas to cover shifts.

"Alot of times you just can't find anybody, so they end up working short," she said. "You're just pulling your hair out by the end of the shift."

'You don't have enough staff'

Although McLaughlin stopped working in 2015, she said she is still in touch with many nurses who are still working, and that little has changed.She says budgets needs to be increased to prevent overwork and stress.

After a 16-hour shift, you might get threeor fourhours off. Then you're back again working again.- Linda McLaughlin

McLaughlin said it's common for eight-hour shifts to turninto 16-hour shifts, with nurses simultaneously providing patient care while trying to call in staff when more people are needed because ofstorms or sick workers.

"After a 16-hour shift, you might get threeor fourhours off. Then you're back again working again," said McLaughlin.

She said that during night shifts there's often onlyone staff person per 12 residents.

Nurses are supposed to be doing patient-centred care, but she says sometimes all that's possible is basic care: feeding and changing people. "You can only do your best," she said. "I feel badly for people who are still working,"

New recruitment program announced

The province has recently announced a new recruitment program for nursing students.

The nursing recruitment incentive program for new graduateswill offer nursing students a signing bonus of $1,100 and guaranteed employment for two years with Health PEI.

It replaces some previous sponsorship and new grad programs.

"They'll get a guarantee of permanent status," said Marion Dowling, chief of nursing for Health PEI.

"Our previous programs, like the sponsorship, was limited to 18 new grads, so this is going to look at up to 50."

There are currently about 70 vacant nursing jobs with the province, Dowling said, and it has been that way for about six years.

Health PEI confirmedsome staff can't get time off,or have to work back-to-back shifts due to shortages.

"Christmastime and the holiday time is a challenging time," said Dowling.

She believes the graduate recruitment will help support the other nurses.

Working conditions important, says national group

The Canadian Nurses Association saidmany areas especially in rural parts of Canada are struggling to find enough nurses and keep them.

The group says graduate incentive programs, mentorship programs for nursing studentsand goodworking conditions with flexible work hours are important.

It's a vicious circle:you can become tired and then sick and then not be able to go back to work.- JosetteRoussel

JosetteRoussel, a registered nurse and program lead in nursing practice and policy at the Canadian Nurses Association, said theshortages are tough on nurses.

"It's a vicious circle: you can become tired and then sick and then not be able to go back to work," she said.

They hearconcerns from members about being exhausted and stressed,Rousselsaid.

As of late December, the province says 15 nursing students have signed up for the new recruitment programand more are expected.

Officials say there are also incentive plans in the works to attract more experienced nurses.

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