Gracedale Nurses Blast "Horrifying" Staff Shortages

A procession of nurses made Northampton County Council that they are very unhappy with the constant staffing shortages at Gracedale. They were led by Local 2599 United Steelworkers President Jerry Greene, who represents a bargaining unit consisting of RNs and social workers at the county's home. "The talks haven't been going that well,"said Greene. While agreeing that Executive Lamont McClure "inherited a mess from the last administration," he said that the facility is understaffed and employees there are underpaid.

Valerie Mikula, a RN employed at Gracedale since 2001, said that she sees the home's mission as providing the highest level of care for the Gracedale residents without causing a hardship to the taxpayers. "Why are we making $5.5 million profit?" she asked.

She indicated there are currently 18 full-time RNs, with 36 full-time RN vacancies. The home is also down 88 aides, she asserted. She added that multiple floors have no RNs, and the work is done by LPNs.

Mikula's comments were echoed by an LPN, who complained she is now alone on a floor with 32 residents. She complained that when a resident falls, he or she must often remain there for as long as 30 minutes until an RN can be located to assess the situation. She said hat's because they are often on the floor, dispensing medications because no one else is there to do it.

Another LPN (Tonya Dominico sp?) said morale is at an all-time low. It's "kind of horrifying," she said. She complained she works 62 hours per week and still gets called.

"The morale stinks!" said CNA Julie Stout. She said the constant overtime has workers at each others' throats. She herself has just finished nine days in a row of extra shifts. She added that the lack of manpower contributes to falls and bedsores.

Candida Fairchild, employed at the home since 1995, said she's unsure she'll stay She gets alerts asking her to work overtime every day. "It's exhausting," she complained. "I hit and killed a woman getting to work."

"I wish we could pay them more money," responded Executive McClure. "But we have 1100 employees who agreed to the pattern." His pattern is a 4 1/2 per cent raise in the first year, followed by two per cent raises in years two and three. He also eliminated co-insurance and gap insurance, which puts more money into the pocket of the worker.

Some nurses suggested 12-hour shifts and signing bonuses. McClure said he is open yo both ideas but they were rejected by the union.

In the meantime, Gracedale's Medicare rating remains at two stars, or "below average."