‘Don’t take it out on us’: Nurses urge public restraint after surge in violence

The Barbados Nurses Association on Monday urged the public not to vent their frustrations on healthcare staff amid a recent spate of attacks, stressing that proper channels exist for addressing grievances as the profession faces mounting pressure over customer service complaints.

Following a meeting with sister unions and nurses on workplace safety at the National Union of Public Workers headquarters in Dalkeith, St Michael, BNA President Dr Fay Parris responded to criticisms of nurses’ behaviour.

She told Barbados TODAY: “When I look at the society as a whole, we have to put all of us in this society, and we realise that things have changed, the way people respond has changed. We hold professionals to a higher standard, and we encourage them to always be professional. But there may be times when one or two persons may not be. But that doesn’t mean that you hold the whole profession to ransom and lash out at the profession.

“I want to reiterate that if there’s a grievance, there is a procedure to deal with grievances. Violence against a person is a criminal offence, and it should be treated as such. BNA is calling for the stiffest penalties when it comes to violence against healthcare workers—not only nurses, but all healthcare workers. They go the extra mile to help you. Sometimes you may not see it for what it is, and your interpretation of what is happening may be [unfavourable].”

She continued: “We can’t negate the fact that without all nurses, the healthcare system would collapse. So we need you to support us. We are working on whatever issues we have in terms of customer service. And again, I want to reiterate that it’s not only nurses who have problems with customer service; that problem is pervasive and we all need to work to stamp that out and work together.”

Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Arthur Phillips also weighed in: “We also note this issue. Staff and systems should be such that clients can expect courteous, effective treatment.”

But frustrations continued to mount among members of the public who took to social media to share their experiences.

Lisanne Barrow commented: “Anybody that has given birth at the QEH has a story to tell about some of these same nurses.”

One Instagram user wrote: “Address the attitudes as well. I had to cuss one while having a gall bladder attack. Pain at ten and she cruel that I groaning and keeping noise in she ears.”

Another added: “True, some of them don’t have no manners and treat people terrible.”

Another commenter said: “The nurses need to be retrained because you are in certain fields don’t give you a right to treat people however because most of you only have manners for those in high places or people wunna like.”

Dr Parris insisted that while service standards are under review, there was no excuse for violence and hostility towards nurses. “We are committed to professionalism,” she said, “but grievances must be resolved through the proper channels.” (SZB)