12-hour days, burnout and lower wages: Ontario nurse says staff shortage getting worse
CTV
An Ontario nurse who's worked in the health-care field for more than 15 years says the staffing levels have never been as bad as they are now.
Sharon Hunter loves her job as a nurse, but she says she feels uneasy every day before she goes to work.
During her more than 15 years in health-care settings, Hunter says, the staffing shortages in her profession have never been worse in Ontario.
"I feel the dread every day when I get up in the morning, not knowing if we're going to have more patients to see than the day is going to allow us to see and thinking about how I'm going to triage and how I have to decide between people who are going to get the care today and who might get the care tomorrow or the day after that," Hunter said in a video interview with CTVNews.ca last week.
She says she feels guilt when she has to take a day off work, knowing her colleagues will have to find a way to take over her workload.
Hunter, 45, is a registered practical nurse (RPN) in the Belleville area, who has mainly worked in community and home care.
RPNs, also known as licensed practical nurses, are trained to support patients who have non-severe, stable and predictable conditions, while registered nurses (RNs) have more comprehensive education and handle more serious cases.
Both types of nurses work collaboratively in the community, homes and hospitals, including emergency rooms.
