Victoria General RNs outraged that VIHA is going ahead with cuts to IV team
VGH nurses and anesthesiologists warn that tomorrow's cuts will compromise patient safety and jeopardize nurses' ability to meet their professional standards
Backgrounder
Victoria General Hospital nurses are warning the public that a short-sighted VIHA plan – set to take effect tomorrow, June 29 – will compromise patient safety and jeopardize theirability to meet their professional standards.
VIHA will cut the IV Therapy Services team's current 24/7 coverage tomorrow, and operate the hospital from 23:30 to 06:30 daily without a skilled IV therapist nurse.
"We fear that people will die because of this plan," says BCNU South Islands co-chair Jacquie Ferrier. "Our employer does acknowledge that there will be bumps along the road. But the nurses fear that those bumps will be fatalities."
Dr. Tim Relf, chief of VGH's department of anesthesia, is also concerned. In a letter he sent to VIHA CEO Howard Waldner, he stated: "It behooves management to resolve this matter, or patients will certainly suffer. To suggest that patient care standards will be maintained is folly."
VGH nurses want to ensure that an expert IV therapist will be onsite 24/7 in cases where the hydration of children is an issue, for the post surgical patients to maintain continuation of epidurals and PCAs, to provide timely intervention for those suffering a sudden onset of cardiac related problems, to treat sepsis, to give blood, insulin, heparin, TPN and troubleshoot for issues around PICC and CVC lines.
Patients at Vic General have had the benefit of a highly-skilled IV team for over 25 years. They're responsible for IV starts on very compromised and vulnerable patients, including the Pediatric unit and Pediatric ICU. The IV team specialists are also the back-up for the Labour and Delivery unit and ER.
"BCNU acknowledges that other nurses can start IVs – but it takes time to acquire expertise," adds Ferrier. "We're calling for a reasonable transition period so nurses and their patients aren't put at risk.
"You can't get rid of the experts in the building until you have experts in the building. The reduction of their services, at the very least, may result in an increase of phlebitis, tissue damage and bacteremia."
The RNs propose that, at the minimum, an expert IV therapist be in the hospital 24/7. They have also suggested that during a mutually agreed upon transition period the original members of the IV team provide training, and 24-hour support and mentoring, to the ward nurses. And they want management to implement an in-house comprehensive IV certification education program.
With less than 24 hours before the cuts come into effect, VGH nurses continue to push for a settlement that doesn't jeopardize the safety of nurses and their patients.
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