Nurses working double shifts for 13 days in a row and unsafe staffing levels are some of the concerns to come out of Coastal Waters Aged Care at Worrowing Heights.
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A group of recently resigned Registered Nurses approached the South Coast Register to air their concerns.
The nurses, who wanted to remain anonymous, said issues arose late last year when new management was appointed. The nurses said with often only one RN rostered to care for more than 120 patients, pain charts aren’t documented. New patients admitted without legal medication charts or GPs also presented problems.
“They’re so desperate to fill beds they’re accepting everyone without following procedure,” the RNs said.
The chief operations officer at Coastal Waters, Glen Hurley, said pain charts are always recorded and residents were not admitted without a GP. He also said nurses were working safe hours to ensure patient care wasn’t compromised.
“In the event of the need for shift coverage, a system is in place to ensure the home can contact like-qualified staff promptly to arrange coverage. It’s only in this instance where nurses may voluntarily work shifts in excess of a 76-hour fortnight.”
One of the nurses said the stress was overwhelming.
“At the end of the day I couldn’t say these residents are well-cared for. I was waking in the night and having heart palpitations.”
The nurses said problems with the new management had been raised with the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. The union was also contacted over a move to close the holding room, an air-conditioned area where deceased patients are moved before families arrive.
With more than 20 years between them at the centre, the nurses said leaving was a bittersweet experience.
“You develop special relationships in aged care nursing but new management didn’t recognise that. Now it’s all about profit over care.”
Mr Hurley said the Sydney based team is working with local management. “We value education for our staff and we have a very experienced RN and nurse educator who has spent time with the other RNs and care staff,” he said.
While he said the holding room was closed for a short time, the process has been reviewed.
“According to the wishes of the family, the resident may be moved to the holding room dependent on the timing of the funeral arrangements.” Body bags are no longer part of procedure.
