Give nurses permanent positions

WE HAVE had a critical shortage of nurses for several years and appear to be at a loss as to how to solve this dilemma.

The lack of nursing staff is linked to poorer patient outcomes and higher costs, decreased ability to maintain a safe environment, increased rates of morbidity and mortality, and less time nurses can spend with patients.

Nurses are often overworked and their positions understaffed.

Patients are coming in sicker, and the demand for care is increasing because of our ageing population.

Having fewer nurses forces hospitals to run on limited staffing, with nurses having to take on more patients to make up for the lack of staff. Many nurses pick up overtime – some are even forced into mandatory overtime just so patients are taken care of.

Nurses are literally working and working until they can no longer work.

Stress, pressure, lack of support and other issues cause nurses to leave to seek other opportunities.

Nurses are key in improving patient outcomes and reducing costs, morbidity and mortality.

Nurses are special people, like teachers. Few of them are in it for the money.

Respect their time, treat them well.

And place them in permanent positions.