update magazine December 2012
BURNABY HOSPITAL
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washing (touchless taps & soap dispensers) and well-staffed overflow units to eliminate hallway patients. “I was impressed with the initiative that our Burnaby Hospital nurses took to ensure that the voices of frontline nurses were heard by the BHCCC. The BCNU members’ suggestions were common sense and compretion, cleanliness, and safe staffing for safe hensive and were well received. It remains to nursing practice,” BCNU member Zarena be seen whether the follow-up development Pash told the BHCCC at a September process for Burnaby Hospital will respect public consultation meeting. Pash is part of the nurses’ and community’s views,” says a group of BCNU activists including Kathy Simon Fraser Chair Liz Ilczaszyn. Bonitz and Valentina Maliarenko, who have The FHA has announced that it has been pushing for safer staffing levels and implemented a comprehensive infection prevention and control strategy that includes enhanced cleaning, the hiring of additional frontline infection control practitioners and a renewed focus on hand hygiene and infection prevention and control practices. Media reports recently revealed that members of the governmentappointed BHCCC – which includes Burnaby Liberal MLAs – were communicating with BC Liberal Party staff for what appear to be partisan PRESENTING SOLUTIONS Burnaby Hospital Nurses purposes. Valentina Maliarenko, Kathy Bonitz, Zarena Pash “This is extremely disappointand Simon Fraser Chair Liz Ilczaszyn hold copies ing,” says BCNU President Debra of a report they submitted to the Burnaby Hospital McPherson. Community Consultation Committee. “Nurses have been up front with better cleaning procedures at their worksite. their solutions and their belief that conThe group submitted a report containsultation processes should be genuine and ing a series of recommendations for the non-partisan. Unfortunately, everyone sufhospital that included measures such as fers when government and employers don’t improving sanitation stations for hand work together for better care.” update
NURSES PRESENT SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER CARE
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hen serious C. difficile outbreaks put Burnaby Hospital in the media spotlight this year, BCNU activists were there to advocate publicly for safe patient care, safe nursing workloads and improved sanitation at the facility. The Fraser Health Authority (FHA) has been struggling to manage the highly contagious C. difficile at the aging hospital. There have been several much-reported outbreaks – the most recent occurring in late 2011 which forced unit closures for several days. Doctors at the hospital say that rates of the infection at Burnaby Hospital have ranged between two to three times the provincial and national averages over the last two years, resulting in 473 serious cases of C. difficile from 2009 to mid-2011, with 84 associated deaths. When the provincial government established the Burnaby Hospital Community Consultation Committee (BHCCC) this summer, nurses working at the facility took the opportunity to raise their concerns and present solutions. “Our issues of highest concern are sanita-
Team Day Member Educators from across the province gathered on September 14, 2012. Bottom row, left to right: Sara Johl, RIVA; Remy Dhillon, FV; Dian Hystad, SH; Kathy Moore, TNO; Judith Dindayal, NE; Cathy Robinson, SFV; and Andrea Rauh, VM. Middle row: Becy Seet, CM; Candice Desousa, OS; Nicole Searle, NW; and Liane Bruneau, SF. Top row: Ann Bradbury, BCNU staff; Helena Barzilay, EK; and Jill Karleen, SI.
Basic Steward training Workshop participants met September 18-19, 2012 Participants included Alicia Birch, Scott Blair, Penny Blair, Anastasia Brown, Celia Chen, Maritess Danganan, Jenny Danskin, Leanna Galbraith, Zoe Jewell, Louise Laroche, Barbara Leach, Amber Lysak, Maren McLean, Beverly Melvin, Anna Pawlak, Laurie Schmidt and Danielle Semple.