Latest news with #RCWs
CBC
25-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Lack of French-speaking staff leading to burnout at P.E.I. long-term care home, MLA says
Social Sharing Issues were raised in the P.E.I. Legislature around staffing shortages and patient safety at a provincially operated long-term care home in Charlottetown. Some nurses from Beach Grove Home were looking on Friday as Opposition health critic Gord McNeilly brought up their concerns about vacant bilingual nursing positions. The Liberal MLA said staff told him up to 84 resident-care worker (RCW) shifts go unfilled every month at the home due to a lack of French-speaking workers. "A nurse reached out to me and she said that… she's stressed. She goes home, can't relax. She used to do things like run and cycle and she had to put those on hold," said McNeilly, who represents Charlottetown-West Royalty where the home is located. "This is the dedication of our health-care staff, but we're burning them out… and it was heartbreaking to get that message." P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane confirmed that one of two bilingual licensed practical nurse positions at Beach Grove Home is vacant, while five of eight French-speaking RCW positions are unfilled. While he admitted it can be challenging to hire bilingual health workers, McLane said Collège de l'Île has restarted its training program for French-speaking RCWs, and the province is trying to recruit internationally. "At this time, there's actually only one bilingual resident at [Beach Grove Home], so the demands aren't too great," he said. "With New Brunswick being our neighbour, it's tough to compete for bilingual positions." In the legislature, the health minister pointed to efforts Health P.E.I. is making to recruit more nurses to its system, including grant programs and an expansion of UPEI's nursing program. McLane also said 500 nursing positions across the Island are being made permanent, which he said will help stabilize the workforce. But McNeilly said those efforts do little to help the burned-out staff at Beach Grove Home in the short-term. "We want the French services, but… you're leaving vacant shifts because of this technicality," he said. "It's not a language issue; it's a service issue." McNeilly asked whether McLane would commit to directing Health P.E.I. to hire English-only term roles for one year to complement the home's staff until those permanent positions can be filled. The health minister said he would take that suggestion back to his department. Unsafe shower facilities, says staff Beach Grove staff also wrote to McNeilly with concerns about subpar shower facilities for patients on the facility's Harbour wing. They said the stall's flooring is not designed for a shower, so water leaks out into the common area — conditions that caused injury to one worker, who slipped on the wet floor. The workers wrote that the shower also doesn't have a temperature gauge, which is against provincial policy. McLane said he would visit the home to speak to staff about the issues, adding that there is money in the provincial budget for upgrades.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
La Center School District ordered to revise student gender identity policy
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After a two-year process, the La Center School District must now officially change its policy regarding students' use of preferred pronouns and gender identity, according to the State of Washington. The current policy, updated in Feb. 2023, requires the school to tell parents if their child questions their gender identity or asks to change their pronouns at school. St. Helens school board meeting ends abruptly after parent outbursts over handling of alleged sex abuse Prior to making the decision to involve families, the district would consult with students about their gender identities and pronouns. Further, school employees privately asked students how they would like to be addressed in class. While some parents were glad the school district was communicating with them, others said the change could be dangerous. It particularly came under fire from transgender and allied community members, with trans advocates blasting the potential forced outing of students to their parents in school board meetings. Those against the school district's changes filed a complaint against the district, questioning whether civil rights were violated. Washington man used Snapchat to threaten minors if they didn't send sexually explicit photos After an investigation, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) officially ordered the La Center School District to change its policy in a letter sent out Wednesday. They claimed the policy was 'out of compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws,' as well as RCWs (Revised Codes of Washington). 'The Pronoun Directive is discriminatory in effect in that it negatively impacts gender-expansive students' ability to participate in or benefit from the District's educational programs or activities,' the letter stated. 'Each of these reasons reflect that the directive was rooted in negative, or even hostile, perceptions of gender-expansive identities and the purpose was discriminatory.' OSPI gave Superintendent Pete Rosenkranz 45 days to revise their policy or send OSPI 'supplemental information' to potentially amend the order. If the district fails to comply with the order, they could face state or federal against them, as well as sanctions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
