Hospital nursing management under microscope

Dear Editior,

Last year the Ministry of Health filled in a number of Ward Sister vacancies after first advertising the positions.

Prior to that,  in 2010 a couple of  Departmental  Sisters were appointed without  any advertisement of the positions.

Recently  the  top nursing position of Principal Nursing Officer (PNO)  was  appointed to Nurse Cesareana Ferrol  without any advertisement of the position.

This position was previously held by Mrs Shirley Augustine who had been seconded to PAHO for the last 4 years.

The appointment of the PNO now makes the position of the PMH Matron vacant.

Interestingly  the person acting in the Matron’s  position was not appointed simultaneously  with the PNO probably  due to her lack of qualifications.

Will the powers that be eventually  appoint her unqualified  without advertising the position?

Will they wait another 4  years until she is qualified?

Will they advertise the position and appoint a new Matron and bring some stabilization to the uncertain tense  nursing management  at the hospital?

It is well known that many nurses in the hospital and community  are more highly qualified  than the current acting Matron who does not even hold a bachelors degree in nursing.

 

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40 Comments

  1. Outsider
    February 26, 2012

    Wow!!!!!!
    My aunt was a nurse for many years and I can always remember something she said to me “nurses are the most underpaid, most overworked and most unappreciated civil servants”.I am a firm beleiver that you do not air out your dirty laundry in public but I also beleive that drastic times call for drastic measures, though this may not have been the best source, has anyone come to think that maybe all other forums or mediums have failed. Let us not take this individuals words as a direct attack on our matron but rather decipher what was said or at least ask to elaborate, because in truth and in fact in the international world though experiance is important qualification is just as if not more important.

  2. Nursing Wilderness
    February 22, 2012

    To: All the nurses in the Land please read:
    From: A Voice in the Nursing Wilderness
    Continues

    I also know of another who has demonstrated her capability of being the Matron and holds masters in Nursing Administration, she has also acted in the capacity of the Matron. She was one of whom accused of sending the original message. I will put my hand in fire, she will not stoop so low because she has class and is much to humble and God fearing to do such. To you I say Madame be strong in the Lord.
    Our nursing body is DNA Madame President I see we have much work to do; I will do my best to play an integral role in an area where am capable of making positive changes, especially when comes to nurses having a forum to vent their concerns. On a personal and professional note I believe that this matter should have been dealt with internally.
    We are all speculating whether of not this person is qualify to hold the position of the matron. Let’s say it’s someone who known’s all about the nursing profession, whether it’s a family of a nurse or close friend. If this is the case then most of what I’ve said is not directed to you sir/Madame; but, to the one you wrote on behalf of. What do you mean, when you said?
    “Will they advertise the position and appoint a new matron and bring some stabilization to the uncertain tense nursing management at the hospital.”
    Certainly if there is any tension it’s because of this backstabbing and unprofessional behavior, which you have so clearly displayed in this article. Can we as a body trust you if you are to be placed in the matron’s position. I pray that God will give you grace and strength to apology to the acting Matron for tarnishing her name.
    As nurses and as a Dominica public let’s think of the nursing career about fifteen years earlier and let’s compare it to today’s nursing career. Yes qualification counts but qualification, wisdom and good character should not be divorced. The nurses in the past were qualified with what; certainly not degree, masters and PhD’s if any it must have been a hand full. But rather they had a school leaving certificate, high school certificate and five CXC/GCE subjects; nursing was not under college, they were being screened before accepted into the nursing service.
    There is no doubt that as nurses we need to pull up our white pantyhose and take time to listen to the patients and clients who we supposedly think is most trouble some, and disturbing ones. Lets stop and listen to the patient when he or she says nurse I had this medication a few minutes ago, lets read the doctor’s order on ever shift, lets assign our nurses to the patients according to the level of care which the patient requires, Let’s assign a snack break to each staff on the shift and remind them of that time, be flexible when we have to and correct and take correction in humbleness and in grateful manner. Let’s listen to the concerns of the families, It’s a team approach, THE PATIENT, THE FAMILY, Doctor, Ward Aides, Domestic workers, Orderlies, staff of the other department, supervisors and the Nurse. Let’s not be task oriented but rather let’s give some more attention to the patient’s need, since caring for the patient must involve taking care of their needs in a HOLISTIC manner.
    The nursing vocation puts food, pays the mortgage, the transport and allows us to be in the pretty white clothing we cover our bare skins. Let’s give nursing care to the clients and patients as we would like to be cared for, all in all remember that the clients, patients is some one else love one.
    I will continue to pray for our Nursing profession in Dominica all is not lost, once there is a light at the end of the tunnel there will be brighten

  3. shamane guye
    February 18, 2012

    Well Well Well you peolpe at pmh have alot of GUTS…………….i have at pmh with the likes of very senior nurses and night supervisors who had no ass, bsn or phd and the attitudes and professionalism was far far better than those at pmh presently who hold the highest masters, phd or whatever else is out there. Please dont get me wrong it is a good thing to be qualified but with the change in qualification should also come a change in ATTITUDE, too many civil servants have the idea that once they have a DEGREE they should automatically move above all else inthe offices above them despite other persons years of experience which i think counts for alot. NURSES STOP AIRING ALL YOU DIRTY LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC AND STOP BEING SO VINDICTIVE AND HATEFUL TO EACH OTHER. To you all surprise the young lady may be very well qualified not because she did not go to UWI with the rest of YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

  4. To Bless
    February 16, 2012

    I have an Idea who wrote this letter.Tell her I say who Jah Bless No Man curse.A degree is not all, her attitude just stinks and having a degree don’t mean taht someone has managerial skills.Letitia what is yours is yours.

    • sunshine
      February 16, 2012

      i dont think enyone can have an idiea who wrote this letter, but in truth and in fact mrs whyke the acting matron have allow her position to go up to her head and being injustice to some of the staff at PMH…I think generally she need to be more professional, we at the PMH NEED A CHANGE OF MATRON,there are other departmental sister who are more gualify and professional and can perform her duties better than miss whyke we would be very grateful for this change!!!!!

  5. lyrics
    February 15, 2012

    Some of the BSN nurses have too many skeletons in their closet, those bones will prick the patients. They CANNOT be MATRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Concerned Nurse
    February 15, 2012

    I am appauled that this nurse used this medium to try to attain a position.
    I want to personally extended best wishes to Mrs. Wyke and hope that the authorities haste in appointing her as MATRON of PMH.She is not an actress and has acted for long enough. BSN,MSN or PHd is not enough qualification for being incharge of nurses. Good moral standing and intregrity should play an equal role. And who are you matron wannabe to say she is not qualified.
    It would be a travesty to nursing and the public health system on a whole if Mrs Whyke was bypassed and another person was appointed. Where were you all when she tirelessly managed this body of nurses.She is overqualified. Going to study abroad will never give the nurses who did the moral standing to hold this honorable and noble position.
    As a nurse working with Mrs whyke I know for a fact that she knows what she is doing, she has the support of non nursing staff and is QUALIFIED. So please Health Authorities, go ahead and appoint the young lady so she can feel more confident to continue the good work she has begun and to further uplift the nusring profession.

  7. Retired nurse
    February 14, 2012

    Who is a nurse? The acting matron. she puts the interests of the patients first. All those senior nurses without BSC or Masters performing better than those fighting for the matron post. ATTITUDE COUNTS!!!
    Retired nursing supervisors, you had no degree but you all cared. The nursing service seems to have transitioned from caring into a degree war.
    The acting matron is a caring, no nonsense person.
    With God on your side, no ‘DEGREE’ of weapon can be used against you. Pray, Fast and hold your head high.

  8. February 14, 2012

    well de grammar school principal under investtigation …..so what

  9. Foreigner
    February 14, 2012

    What is the purpose of making the sacrifice, expending resources, leaving children and husbands behind, putting oneself in contractual obligations with lending institutions in the form of student loans, burning the mid nite oil as it were to improve oneself only to be bypassed by someone who did not or we’re not willing to make those sacrifices. Civil servants should be rewarded for sacrifices. I believe the person most qualified for the position should be placed at the head of the institution. If the current holder of the position were interested she should have made efforts to bring her qualifications at a suitable level to be considered for the position.

  10. Mahaut
    February 14, 2012

    All you have problems

    • stupes/babygirl
      February 14, 2012

      you can say that again,
      if the woman have the experience leave the woman alone, dont get me wrong beng qualified is great, but some of us are qualified and still a jack

  11. spyweb
    February 13, 2012

    there are a cadre of nurses at the PMH who are extremely vindictive, very unethical, autocratic, immoral and very unprofessional. In their chagrin they won’t relent neither will they rest content unless they have assassinated the character of other nurses who in fact are by far on grandeur level than they are all things being considered. This despicable attitude speaks to nothing short of sheer malice and ill-will against individuals sharing a common interest in the nursing fraternity. Stop behaving like spoiled brats and get and get on with the work you are called on to do.

  12. ANTICOME 2
    February 13, 2012

    All of all you need prayers from the PNO TO THE SUPERVISORS…TOO MUCH ROUND PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES…and that is the truth..GOD HELP OUR NURSING SERVICE…

    • sunshine
      February 15, 2012

      U ARE SO RIGHT,THEY ALL NEED PRAYER TOO MUCH WRONG PEGS IN THE WRONG HOLE

  13. Nightingale
    February 13, 2012

    At the time the Acting Matron took the job those so-called qualified nurses did not want it, it was too much work, too much responsibility. Now they vex.

  14. Anonymous2
    February 13, 2012

    Okay. So the lady in question has been in this position for some time…she is supposedly not qualified and they have not appointed her along with the PNO however, they have not appointed any ‘qualified’ persons? There is obviously a reason why they have kept her in the position. I don’t think anybody has a right to question the authorities in terms of this. I understand that people question such sometimes however i feel that this article has a negative aspect towards it and the person who wrote this is being biased

    • Outsider
      February 26, 2012

      We live in a democatic country it is every citizen, taxe payers right to question the actions and decisions of those in authority.

  15. WHAT!!!!
    February 13, 2012

    now people listen do :( you all know the difference between bachelor in nursing and diploma in management? Advance nursing gives you more experience in the nursing field, however management allows one to give directive coordinate, budget, plan evaluate and implement and then evaluate for effectiveness and efficiency. Matron can work in any department in the area of management. experience in all areas of these aspect makes a difference Be satisfy with what you have and don’t grudge the lady. lol

  16. So Sad
    February 13, 2012

    Qualifications,experience, continuing education and the right attitude must be the some of the criteria for promotion in the nursing service. Team spirit is at its lowest at PMH presently not just among the nurses but moreso among the various departments. It is important for persons to understand that we get nowhere by trying to pull each other down. Management needs to quickly put together an action plan for team building because at the end of the day the patient is the one who really suffers.

    • lisad
      February 14, 2012

      That seed of covetousness and competitiveness is planted in the classroom. I am a nurse, trained in Dominica and I this is how I saw it then . Sadly, nothing has changed twenty years later.

  17. stupes
    February 13, 2012

    that person must really want the position of matron real bad.I have worked with you letitia and know you can work, none of them know your qualifications, you have the guts and you can administer,some of them that say they have qualifications all they did was copy through school.they have no idea what to do in situations. hold on strong letitia.God is good all the time and he is even better this time.keep doing what you are doing with a good heart and concern for all nurses.

  18. WWWWOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYY
    February 13, 2012

    I hope that the relevant authorities investigate and deal with the root of the problem. The person may or may not have qualifications and have tons of experience, but what if instead of building ur team u’r breaking down the hard working nurses whom u’r supposed to be supervising? I mean that is a very big and serious matter, which the Higher powers need to address, bcause a nursing staff who is constantly frustrated, stressed and belittled by the wrong management team and working conditions will not be able to deliver efficient patient care. many times, when comments or attacks are made against the health care professionals, the nurses(who work under a management) are the ones being highlighted instead of the pple who manage them.

    Ps. I believe the nursing association is very much divided and thus has no strength. for the amount of things I saw nurses go through when I was a patient and continue to see, the treatment they get is very disrespectful and degrading.

    • Ex-patient
      February 26, 2012

      It is so refreshing to hear someone out of the nursing service express something of that nature. Wow, I thought I was the only one with eyes and ears.

  19. WWWWOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYY
    February 13, 2012

    WOY WOY WOY!!!!! that is a serious, very serious matter. we’re talking bout the primary health care institution in the country. this matter needs to be addressed promptly. I mean, where is the minister and or Permanent Secretary responsible for that Department???? what about the other health care professionals who are much more qualified than her?? why aren’t they talking about that??? Is like the lady setout to dismantle the nursing service. there are soo many hard working nurses, young and old, who cry on this lady head. my my my.

    • lisad
      February 14, 2012

      nonesense

  20. spyweb
    February 13, 2012

    I think that the claims made by the anonymous writer to DNO regarding the acting matron is ill-founded and vexatious. You can’t be alleging that your concern is based on a presumption and in your own words “probably due to her lack of qualifications” then turn and malign this individual based on those assumptions. Get your facts straight as to whether the lady is qualified or not.

  21. nurse
    February 13, 2012

    I do not like how this article is worded. This is throwing maypwi at some body. I think that there is a much more professional way to get this information across.
    Though the information may be true…

    Thanks

  22. Wonderer
    February 13, 2012

    I was just wondering. Doesn’t the hospital or more specifically nurses at PMH has a management team that includes the so qualified people who are covetous of positions and who contributes to failing the system by not supporting the efforts and have the audacity to speak about tension and stabilization. Come on people, let’s be real.Does the matron work in isolation of other managers. And by the way I am not a nurse and have no affiliation with the nursing service, but just for my own edification who is a qualified nurse? Is it one who leaves high school, goes to the college and obtain a bachelor’s degree? Enlighten my ignorance.

  23. T. Winston
    February 13, 2012

    Experience counts for alot in the nursing field
    Alot of the people with Bachelor’s degrees have little to no hands on experience with nursing or nursing management. However knowing the internal politics (not red/blue/green but office politics/squabbles/affairs) associated with the public service is key. Hands on experience is the difference between scars and death sometimes.

    • qualification
      February 13, 2012

      in the the public the pre-requisite for upward mobility is qualification not only that years of service and experience.

  24. hahaha
    February 13, 2012

    Yes she will be appointed because she is in the job muchlonger than you and she knows the job better than you. If you get the job she still has to train you with you degreeeeee :mrgreen: Does that answer your question?

  25. Hey
    February 13, 2012

    Stupes why did that person not send the letter when she was acting? The lady has been acting for years now and is in the process of doing a post graduate degree I believe. Her experience and her pursiut of this degree should make her qualified. The person writing this letter seems to have qualifications and no experience. Ya’ll scared to speak up in your nursing forums and you come to exhale here? Cha man… sit in the meetings and say how you feel. Stupes.

    • Wonderer
      February 14, 2012

      Maybe lack professionalism and character too

  26. February 13, 2012

    THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN THIS HOSPITAL ,IT GOES MUCH MORE FURTHER THAN THIS.
    NOTE….I TOOK MY SON TO THE HOSPITAL FOR AN ALLERGY PROBLEM AT THE EMERGENCY AND THE NURSE WHO ATTENDED TO MY SON HAD A PLASTER STUCK ON HER FINGER AND ON THAT PLASTIC THE BLOOD WAS SHOWING OF IT…THIS NURSE COULD HAVE HAD THE AIDS VIRUS SHE SHOULD BE WEARING GLOVES,THE TOILET WHICH IS PLACED IN THIS ROOM WAS EXTREMELY SMELLY ;THE SMELL REACHED AS FAR AS THE AREA WHERE THE PATIENTS WERE LAYING DOWN,A LADY WAS LAYING ON A BEAR STRETCHER WITHOUT ANY PAPER OR A SHEET UNDER ,THESE LITTLE PLASTIC THINGS THAT ARE BEING PLACED ON THE THERMOMETER IS BEING WASHED IN A BREEZE PAIL WITH COLD WATER,THEY GAVE MY SON TO BREATH IN A BROWN PAPER BAG.AIR PASSES THROUGH A PAPER BAG ,IT DOES NOT POINT OUT THE RATION OF A CHILDS BREATH SPECIAL IF IT IS A SMALL BAG,A MAN WAS ASKED FOR MONEY EVEN BEFORE HE WAS ATTENDED IS THAT HUMAN.
    THERE SHOULD BE A SPECIAL ROOM TO WASH THINGS AND THERE SHOULD BE WARM WATER AT ALL TIMES TO STERILIZED EVERY THING THAT WAS USED BY ANY OTHER PATIENT INCLUDING MY SON IN ORDER TO AVOID SPREADING DECEASES.
    I HAD TO TAKE MY SON AWAY ON THE FIRST FLIGHT NEXT DAY ..A LOT MUST BE DONE.

  27. Anonymous
    February 13, 2012

    the other so called nurses may be qualified as the above stated but it also takes the right attitude to do the job, the present matron has the right stuff, qualifications these days is just a piece of paper, let the others compete with that.

  28. Lady
    February 13, 2012

    Way to go brave soul! Issues like these are not the only one going around. Other persons are not so brave to take it to the media….. hmmmm i can just see the powers that be lunch an investigation to find out who is behind this letter…just so they can victimise as is there habit.

  29. February 13, 2012

    wow!!!! dno i have issues with some people.. i guess i can come and vent on dno also hhmmmm lol

  30. amazed
    February 13, 2012

    Well put together, that’s a talk from an affected person.

    • Lone Cowboy
      February 13, 2012

      I think so too.

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