Nurses are sounding the alarm about the lack of staff available to keep Stanton Territorial HospitalSA国际影视传媒檚 operating room functioning the way it should, according to the Union of Northern Workers (UNW).

The union says that operating room nurses are at less than 50 per cent of a full complement and the workers have described the situation as SA国际影视传媒渦nsustainable.SA国际影视传媒�

The affected health staff have advised their employer and the Registered Nurses Association of the NWT and Nunavut of their concerns in writing. The ordeal is causing them to struggle mentally, physically and emotionally, the UNW stated in a news release circulated on Friday.

SA国际影视传媒淟ast week I heard from an RN (registered nurse) who had just come off over 20 hours of work,SA国际影视传媒� said Local 11 president Tina Drew. SA国际影视传媒淪adly, this is not an exceptional circumstance. Hospital management is working with the local to find solutions to ease the burden on nurses.SA国际影视传媒�

Although nurses and union representatives have been communicating with hospital management frequently, more needs to be done at NWT Health and Social Services Authority to address the issues that Stanton nurses are facing, according to the UNW.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 have all the answers,SA国际影视传媒� Drew said, SA国际影视传媒渂ut we are ready and willing to work with management to find creative solutions to these difficult circumstances. Something needs to change immediately as this problem is not going away any time soon.SA国际影视传媒�

The union acknowledged a global shortage of nurses, but reiterated that it has been warning the GNWT about an SA国际影视传媒渋mpending healthcare crisisSA国际影视传媒� for several years.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have raised these issues with the employer time and time again,SA国际影视传媒� said Gayla Thunstrom, UNW president. SA国际影视传媒淯nfortunately, our healthcare workers are still critically short staffed, beyond exhausted, and terrified of the risk to patients and to their own health.SA国际影视传媒�

The union accused GNWT senior management of avoiding SA国际影视传媒渕eaningful engagement,SA国际影视传媒� which has SA国际影视传媒渃ompounded the problem.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e have an employer who claims it listens to its workers,SA国际影视传媒� says Thunstrom, SA国际影视传媒渂ut it continues to blindside our members and the union with media announcements and policies, without consultation or even advance notification.SA国际影视传媒�

Drew added, SA国际影视传媒淥ur nurses are doing an amazing job, and the whole hospital is pulling together to keep things running. We strongly encourage our members to reach out to their union reps whenever they have concerns, so we can document them and bring them up during our meetings with hospital management.SA国际影视传媒�