By Spencer Sterritt

‘Cautious optimism’ from unions, staff about changes to toxic work environment at NRGH

Dec 3, 2018 | 5:33 PM

NANAIMO — It’s hoped a year of hard work will help restore faith in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

The hospital suffered a serious blow after a damning report was made public in November 2017, illustrating the numerous ways the site had become a toxic work environment and was on a path to self-destruction.

“Not responding to staff issues, keeps people in the dark about what management is doing, displaying a sense of pride and willingness to help each other out is a rarity” were just some of the criticisms laid out in the report.

Several committees were formed, or were already in the early stages, to address the issue. Since then, BC Nurses Union president Christine Sorensen told NanaimoNewsNOW she’s “cautiously optimistic” about brighter, more inclusive days at the hospital.

“I think the fact (nurses) know they’re being included in decision making and receiving significant communication early and often is starting to help. This is very much what nurses were asking for: listen to us, hear what we have to say, consider our ideas and look at implementing them.”

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“Nurses will put up with an awful lot”

Since the report was published, NanaimoNewsNOW spent a considerable amount of time discussing with nurses and hospital employees how their day-to-day work life changed.

All said nothing had changed. Some switched out of their departments, citing toxic employees who ruined work for everyone or a chance to relieve stress in their personal lives. Numerous nurses said gaslighting and rampant egos were still at play in high-stress situations like the emergency room and operating room.

Two of the hospital employees who commented to NanaimoNewsNOW have since transferred out of the hospital.

Sorensen confirmed nurses on the floor at NRGH, handling patients and dealing with the overwhelming stress of working in a hospital, haven’t yet seen many significant changes.

But more formal communication trickling down from upper management about recent decisions is welcome.

“Nurses will put up with an awful lot as long as they feel valued, feel they’re contributing and being able to provide care in a safe way. It’s about a culture change and that’s beginning to turn around at NRGH. We’re looking forward to that percolating down to the lower levels, right at point-of-care and improving the work culture. But we have a long way to go.”

Code Lavender

One of the groups creating the small changes in the right direction is known as the Nanaimo Oceanside Work Place Culture Committee. It was actually formed roughly six months before the report about NRGH’s work environment was presented to staff.

Committee member Dean Brumwell said it was clear the situation at the hospital needed to be rectified but they knew it was going to take a signficant amount of time to undo years of damage.

One of the biggest initiatives being worked on is known as a Code Lavender. It’s already in place at hospitals in the United States and Brumwell said he was confident it should make a serious positive impact when rolled out.

It’s a rapid response to a situation, where a staff member or patient would call for a code lavender and a support team would arrive to help them through a stressful situation.

“Everyone around a hospital can feel this accumulated stress and if it’s not addressed in the moment, it can often build up and have negative consequences,” Brumwell said. “If we’re talking about resuscitating a heart with a code blue, then a code lavender can be called to resuscitate the mind, body and spirit.”

Brumwell said he’s seen support and enthusiasm for the idea at upper levels, though many are hesitant since so many possible solutions have been presented over the years without any follow-up.

But he said the code lavender, as well as initiatives like more staff days and events bringing everyone together, will put the hospital on the right path.

“If you consistently take the small steps, they eventually add up. With the right structure, based on research about how change occurs and how to sustain it, we believe we’re going to be able to sustain and grown these initiatives.”

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit