There’s a jarring sense of déjà vu in Manitoba hospitals, where nurses are once again scrambling to find additional staff for critical care units overwhelmed by patients falling ill with influenza and other respiratory illnesses. .
As was the case during the first wave of coronavirus infections in late 2020 and early 2021, nurse “extenders” (other healthcare workers who support intensive care teams) and other health care workers are being replaced from other departments. nurses are busy caring for patients. Severely ill patient.
“We’re back in that situation again. We’re moving nurses from one department to the ICU to manage patients,” Manitoba Nurses Union President Darlene Jackson said.
John Woods / Free Press File Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nursing Union;
“We’re back to that situation again. We’re moving nurses from one department to the ICU to manage patients.”–Darlene Jackson
“It’s very difficult for them and it’s very scary when they’re there, because if they’ve never taken care of a patient on a ventilator (and are expected to do so) ), because that’s absolutely terrifying for a nurse in that position.”
Nurses are being asked to take on extra shifts, are “self-mandated” to work beyond their normal work hours, or are being asked to forgo planned time off to continue working as patient volumes increase. she said.
“They’re overwhelmed and feel like they don’t have enough staff to provide the patient care that we know they need to provide in the emergency medical field.”
“They’re overwhelmed and feel like they don’t have enough staff to provide the patient care that we know they need to provide in the emergency medical field.”–Darlene Jackson
Due to a lack of intensive care capacity, scheduled surgeries are being canceled for patients who require post-operative ICU beds. The number of surgeries canceled this week was not available Friday afternoon.
A spokesperson for Shared Health said there were no surgeries postponed at the children’s hospital this week due to ICU capacity issues, and an emergency effort to expand both pediatric and adult ICU capacity at the Health Sciences Center. He added that a contingency plan is in place.
Pediatric ICUs are still operating above baseline capacity, with large numbers of children presenting to the ER, and 51% of patients had influenza or flu-like symptoms, according to Shared Health. .
The number of patients in pediatric ERs averaged 160 per day, down slightly from the all-time high of 170 patients per day in November 2022.
The number of adult patients in HSC’s ICU is also higher than usual, with about 30 per cent having respiratory symptoms, Shared Health said, noting 861 patients visited Winnipeg’s ERs and urgent care centers on Thursday.
Shared Health is reminding the public to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, stay home when sick and practice good hygiene. Officials are directing Manitobans to myrightcare.ca or Health Links to determine whether they need to go to hospital or if they can be safely treated at home or with their GP.
Jackson said she has been receiving emails from nurses indicating how the hospital is handling the surge. Children’s hospitals are “extremely struggling,” as is the ER and ICU at Brandon Regional Health Centre, and staffing shortages are severe in Thompson and northern Manitoba, she said.
“There is no place in this state that does not have a nursing shortage that is causing absolute hardship,” she said.
“There is no place in this state that does not have a nursing shortage that is causing absolute hardship.”–Darlene Jackson
Jackson urged people to get vaccinated and reiterated his call for medical facilities to impose mask mandates. That decision is up to public health officials.
Even before influenza and respiratory virus cases began to peak, hospital conditions were unbearable for already exhausted nurses, she said.
“This happens every year, but I feel like there’s no plan at all to provide flexibility in the system to make sure we’re covered. We know that influenza and RSV come around every fall. ”
“This happens every year, but I feel like there’s no plan at all to provide flexibility in the system to make sure we’re covered. We know that influenza and RSV come around every fall. ”–Darlene Jackson
And she offered some advice for Manitobans who need to go to hospital.
“Please be prepared to wait and be courteous, as our staff is doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible,” she said.
katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
