covid-19 vaccination:
The Estrie is now in a really good position! Vaccination is going well, appointments are now consistently filled, daily new cases remain low, and hospitalizations are reduced, beds are available, and our healthcare system can manage. Seniors received their first dose and second doses have started to be administered. As for employees: if you received your first dose when they started vaccinating healthcare professionals in December 2020 and January 2021, you have or are about to receive your second shot as well. This news is amazing!
CHSLD residents who received the Moderna vaccine are officially scheduled for their second dose on Wednesday, May 5th. I sent a memo to the Norton units outlining the day's requirements. RPA residents are expected to be vaccinated in May as well, although the date is to be determined.
If you still have not received your first dose, I have sent many communications. The vaccination calendar is still open to essential services; I verify the website daily, and there are frequent openings. You can book your first appointment online on ClicSanté and you will receive your second appointment when you go for your first shot. Please move fast: the government is about to open the calendar to the whole population. At this point, healthcare workers will no longer have priority. Please remember to send your vaccination proof to Human Resources to receive remuneration. As of April 28th, pregnant women can be vaccinated, which protects two people at once.
DIFFERENT UNIT RATIOS:
I heard bad comments lately that are very disappointing. Yes, a unit might have more employees on a given shift than another. No, this difference is not unfair. If employee ratios are higher on a particular unit, that means the increased staffing was proven to be necessary according to the required level of care, residents' needs, and the workload's reality. If you want to discuss workload, please direct your comments to the correct person: me. Workload is constantly evolving depending on admissions and resident conditions. Just because a unit is challenging right now does not mean that reality will remain. You are welcome to try different shifts and units to understand other teams' reality.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND WORK ETHIC:
We discussed confidentiality at floor meetings, but I want to ensure this message reaches you. Employees must lower their voices and choose the moment and place to have conversations about residents. No one should discuss care in front of unconcerned residents. Please be vigilant. I asked that report be given in the Head Nurse's office or in the solarium if the room is empty, to reduce noise level and gatherings at the nursing station. We are still in a pandemic and distancing is still required among residents and employees, so an entire shift of employees cannot gather in the nursing station for report. The noise level becomes too loud as well. We talked about the Yacker Trackers to monitor noise; we might bring these devices back in May for a few weeks, just to demonstrate how easily the tone gets too high. I will keep you posted.
There are subjects that employees cannot have with family members or each other. Only the Head Nurses may discuss resident moves with family members, for example. When a resident changes units, there are many factors involved, including their condition, unit dynamics, the mission, the Mécanisme d'accès, and the waiting list. I was made aware that employees offer their opinions to family members on their loved ones' transfers, which is very unprofessional. One specific example is that an employee told a family member that their parent should not be moved to another unit. If you want to discuss a move, transfer, or anything else, I invite you to speak with the Nurse, but please do not talk to family members. Thank you for your professionalism and please be vigilant.
Finally, we must talk about positivity and good vibes. Respect is one of the Wales's values and is crucial to me. If you, as an employee, have a dissatisfaction, please address your concern to the correct person and not out loud in break rooms and definitely not while feeding or providing care. I am horrified to hear employees exchanging negativity while feeding residents. How does this oversight even occur? How does venting in front of a resident change or improve the dissatisfaction? If you think something went wrong, or that something needs to be changed, please speak to the Head Nurse or Supervisor. Please follow the chain of command and then move on. Please allow us to take care of your dissatisfactions, go through your day, and stop reminiscing about the issue, especially in front of residents. This behaviour is unacceptable and very disrespectful. The residents need your human touch and eye contact, which is why we work here. They do not deserve to hear your complaints about scheduling, about other shifts, or any other issues. Thank you for addressing this concern, making the change, and moving on.
Happy Mother's Day to the mothers, mothers-to-be, grandmothers, step-mothers, mothers-in-law, and godmothers!
Vicky Gingras
Director of Health Services
819-826-3266 extension 224