As a retired former RN in BC., in conversation with an RN I met who is working with Covid patients, she requested counselling through a program with her Vancouver City hospital. Was told she could have an appointment in SIX MONTHS. I know this is not at all providing support. 1/2

@cafreeland You state, "...when the pandemic is behind us." Currently, nurses are being traumatized with particularly the suffering of Covid patients and the high number of deaths NOW. I had fewer than 8 in my 34 yr. career in Critical Care. Some RN's now are having 2 of their ICU 2/3
@cafreeland patients die in one 12 hr. shift and may have to assist other RN's in ICU who lose their patients and have to prepare the bodies for the porter to take to the morgue. To not have immediate support and counselling for these nurses is absolutely not okay. There are going to be 3/4
@cafreeland many who leave a career they previously loved and spent 4 years preparing for a long professional career. Now they are disheartened and traumatized as well as exhausted physically (many are working double shifts, many more days without a day off) and definitely mentally and 4/5
@cafreeland emotionally empty. One nurse on Twitter two weeks ago stated in her ICU there had been 12 deaths! Imagine dealing with this one day and having to return to another day of more Covid deaths. There needs to be immediate provision with each hospital to provide an area in the 5/6
@cafreeland specific for stress management, on site available counselling even if over a phone contact with a psychologist 24/7 - since the nurses work 24/7. Unless something is provided now, there will be nurses who attempt suicide (we never have statistics about this in the news) and 6/7
@cafreeland suicides which may also be protected for privacy of families from being in the news. It will happen, I have no doubt. To be ahead of this wave of nurses with PTSD, having no support for failing mental health is not how to keep a strong and healthy nursing workforce. This 7/8
@cafreeland issue absolutely needs addressing on a Federal and Provincial level immediately with communication with the Canadian Nurses Association & RN Registration Colleges in each province with immediate attention. @JustinTrudeau @PattyHajdu @adriandix @canadanurses @nnp_bc @BCNurses
@cafreeland @JustinTrudeau @PattyHajdu @adriandix @canadanurses @nnp_bc Tagging also: @keithbaldrey @steeletalk @NEWS1130 @CKNW @globalnews @CTVNews @CTVVancouver @GlobalBC @PennyDaflos
Also a request to @UnrollHelper with appreciation for this.

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