Prince Rupert Nursing shortage has Northern Health walking a tightrope

It's going to be an anxious summer for patients, medical professionals and administrators in Prince Rupert.

Opinion 250 has posted a story on its website , detailing the concerns over nursing shortages at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, a situation that could possibly lead to patient transfers over the summer months.

Prince Rupert Nursing Shortage Could Force Patient Transfers
By 250 News
Friday, June 29, 2007 03:55 AM

While Northern Health is making some progress in filling vacant nursing positions at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, the facility will be walking a tightrope over the summer months.

"We want our patients to understand that in the event of a nursing shortage during a particular time, due to a sick call or unexpected staffing vacancy, we may need to conduct transfers to other facilities to ensure our patients receive certain procedures," says Sheila Gordon-Payne, Interim Health Services Administrator for Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands.

"We are hopeful this will not happen. Even so, we're advising patients, such as expectant mothers, to discuss their birthing plan or alternative arrangements with their physician, in the event a transfer has to happen."

Northern Health's Director of Communications, Mark Karjaluoto, says two new staff members will bring the Maternity Ward at PRRH up to its full complement, as of August 1st. And by the fall, he says, "The hospital will have a nursingrotation that provides three registered nurses on the patient care unit (emergency and the operating room are staffed separately), two of which will have maternity training."

However with vacation time and the potential for staff sick days, Karjaluoto says Northern Health is working to bring nurses from outside of Prince Rupert to work at the hospital for shifts through the summer. He says recruitment for vacant medical/surgical nursing positions also continues.