“Management did not hear our distress.” At Pontchaillou University Hospital, in Rennes, caregivers who work night shifts in surgical intensive care have decided to take sick leave until Friday, October 4 in the morning. 24 nurses and caregivers mobilized to send a message to the hospital management, which initiated a restructuring of this particular service a few months ago.
This must move entirely by April 2025 into the brand new “surgical and interventional center”, planned for 108 critical care beds, but also 240 surgical beds and 60 outpatient places. This move is accompanied by other changes, in particular to schedules and schedules, with additional nights added to the schedule of teams providing nighttime care on 12-hour shifts.
First action in August
In August, caregivers had already carried out a first action, to alert management, by means of banners. Since then, according to our information, discussions have not led to a solution.
In this department which manages always vital issues, with patients in very serious medical distress, “the night rhythm is already difficult in itself”, testifies this nurse. “Adding nights in this way will have an impact on our quality of life, because it will accentuate a form of professional burnout, the stops are already not replaced.”
Like most of her night shift colleagues, she has “no prospect of working the day shift”. Notably because “It’s a sector that has difficulty recruiting, so our feeling is that we are being asked to compensate more and more. »
“We think of the patients”
However, caregivers are aware that fatigue is accompanied by a risk of “loss of vigilance in the care provided”. “We don’t stop for fun, we are really exhausted and sad. Beyond our comfort, we think above all of the patients, their families, and the doctors and colleagues who remained at the hospital to provide care. It’s a job that we do out of passion, and that we want to do for as long as possible.” But there can be no professional development without a little “comfort in our personal life”, this nurse still pleads.
Six intensive care beds were closed as a result of this staff movement, and patients were redirected to other hospital centers, caregivers assure. When contacted, the hospital management did not respond to our requests, in particular to confirm this last point.
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