Study links stress, medication errors

A Statistics Canada study showing links between work stress and medication error doesn’t apply to nurses in Jasper, says Seton Hospital registered nurse Julie Parisien.

The study, released mid-way through International Nursing Week last week revealed that nearly one-fifth of RNs in Canadian hospitals said they “occasionally” or “frequently” make medication or dosage mistakes and those in stressful workplaces were more likely to report a mistake.

“I would say it happens very infrequently,” Parisien said of medication errors made at Seton Hospital. 

Factors to determine stress include working overtime, staff shortages, inadequate resources, lack of coworker support and low job security. 

Parisien said nurses at Seton Hospital face few such challenges.

“I wouldn’t say it’s not stressful, but we’re staffed well, everyone’s very supportive and management is accommodating,” she said. “The issues we bring up do get looked at and often get addressed.”

The study may reflect hospitals in larger cities which tend to be more stressful, Parisien said.

“They have the resources but no time,” she said. “Patients that come back from the city are so grateful because they start to receive the care and attention they weren’t getting in the city.”

Since leaving a nursing position in Ottawa to work in Jasper, Parisien has noticed and appreciated the supportive work community at Seton.

“As soon as you hear sirens in town, people will call in to say ‘I’m available’,” she said. “Doctors, paramedics, kitchen help, housekeeping... everyone just really pulls in together.”

Lorna Chisholm, community health services manager agrees with Parisien: “The issues that were highlighted in the report fortunately don’t generally apply here in Jasper.”

She said one reason for the positive environment is that Seton is fully staffed with 20 RNs, two summer students, six licensed practical nurses in addition to health care aides. 

“We’re in a rather fortunate position,” she said, adding that the hospital’s nurses are supportive because they are a small group.

“We work closely and rely on each other as friends and for support during the tough times we obviously see from time to time,” Chisholm said. “The nurses are pretty tight through the good and the bad.”

As for the looming busy tourist season, Chisholm said the hospital is prepared.

“We have on many occasions had to deal with crises because of a motor vehicle accident or tourists with noro virus,” she said. “Our staff are flexible and dedicated, and I’m not anticipating that our nurses will have to do a significant amount of overtime if any.”