Why senior nurse is striking

ONE senior Dunedin nurse has a simple explanation for why she is on strike today — ‘‘I want us to be able to look after our patients properly’’.

The nurse, one of about 30,000 healthcare workers nationwide who walked off the job for 24 hours at 7am, said staff shortages at Dunedin Hospital prompted her to vote for industrial action.

‘‘For me, it’s not so much about the money, it’s about the number of nurses — that is the problem,’’ the nurse said.

‘‘When people come into hospital there are not enough nurses to look after them — there just isn’t.’’

The nurse, who did not wish to be named in case speaking out affected her employment, said in recent months in one ward at Dunedin hospital around 40 gaps in each week’s roster needed to be filled.

Sometimes, junior nurses were asked to fill in for senior colleagues, the nurse said.

Nurses were ‘‘literally running’’ from patient to patient, and often worked unpaid overtime for what should be routine tasks such as preparing patient notes for shift handovers.

‘‘People are always there well over time . . . an enrolled nurse on her first day on her own on an afternoon shift without being mentored, and they were heavy patients, didn’t get away until quarter to one in the morning.’’

Facilitation talks between the New Zealand Nurses Organisa

tion and district health boards foundered yesterday.

The NZNO, which represents nurses, midwives, assistants and other healthcare workers, said it remained available for further talks but the strike would go ahead.

The striking workers represent around 70% of frontline hospital staff; some nurses will remain on duty to provide urgent and lifepreserving services during the strike.

Nurses will picket outside Dunedin Hospital today, and hold protest marches around the hospital precinct.

Nurses will also demonstrate at Southland and Lakes District Hospitals.