MAHONING VALLEY Nurses try to effect change in conditions

Nurses and union leaders talked about crises they say are common in the health-care industry.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Susan Savastuk remembers how different the health-care field was when she became a nurse nearly 20 years ago. She recalled having four nurse's aides and five registered nurses for 30 patients.
She said it's now it's closer to one of each for every 30 patients.
Savastuk said she has suffered from stress brought about by an added patient load and forced overtime. She also said she was unprepared for the hospital's response to her concerns.
"No one [at Forum Health Northside Medical Center] seemed concerned. I could have walked out that door and no one would have said anything. My administration doesn't see me as being valuable," she said.
For health reasons, Savastuk cut her schedule from five days a week to three.
Town hall meeting: Savastuk was one of several registered nurses who attended a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Jewish Community Center on Youngstown's North Side. It was sponsored by the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association of the Ohio Nurses Association.
She and about 30 others listened as four speakers addressed what they say are major problems for nurses: mandatory overtime, an unsafe work environment and a critical nursing shortage. They also urged support of House Bill 78, which they say would address those issues by eliminating mandatory overtime and establish nurse-to-patient ratio based on the level of care needed instead of on other factors, such as economics.
Bonnie Lambert, YGDNA president, opened the session by mentioning that patients' rights include "safe staffing and competent nurses." Staffing should be based on need, not sheer numbers, she added.
Forced overtime: Lambert said that mandatory overtime is unsafe for patients and nurses and that many times, nurses have to neglect family and other obligations.
Peggy Noble, an ONA government affairs specialist, said scheduling problems are common and often lead to forced overtime.
"Holes in the schedule remain unfulfilled. Someone is picked to fill another eight-hour shift. If they don't, they've been threatened with termination," she told the group.
Noble also said this situation is bad for critically ill patients, whose needs can change quickly.
Linda Warino, ONA district president, said forced overtime often leads to medical errors, because nurses become tired and can be less effective. She added that some patients don't see a nurse for hours; some patients provide their own care -- or their roommate's. She also said many nurses' complaints go unaddressed.
"Many grievances pile up, but little is done," she said. She also urged support of House Bill 78.
If passed, however, the bill would not solve the patient care and nursing shortage crises, according to Bonnie Peratta, vice president of clinical services for Humility of Mary Health Partners. The underlying cause of the shortage is that fewer people overall are going into nursing, creating a national shortage, she added.
Creating incentives: The organization is networking with nursing schools to create incentives to stay in the profession, such as flexible staffing and a better orientation program. Peratta also mentioned the overtime issue.
"No one would like to see this abolished more than us. Overtime is something that occurs only when absolutely necessary," Peratta said.
Humility of Mary Health Partners recently sent out a survey to get nurses' ideas to solve this problem, said Christine Begalla, nursing recruiter.
Begalla said most units at St. Elizabeth and St. Joseph Health centers staff themselves.
She mentioned that employees can choose two "circle days" a month. Such days require the nurse to work beyond the scheduled eight hours, only if needed.
"We never mandate overtime," Begalla said.
Statistics: Dorcas Fitzgerald of Youngstown State University's School of Nursing pointed out that 60 percent of nurses are over 40. Beginning salaries are about $40,000 for RNs, she added.
Fitzgerald mentioned what she called valuable reforms, including "An increased respect for the profession," as the audience applauded.