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Senator Says Nurses Don’t Need Breaks As They Spend Most Of The Day Playing Cards, Nurses Respond With Sarcastic Pics
Republican state senator Maureen Walsh is in for a wild ride. The lawmaker came under fire after saying that nurses in smaller hospitals “probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day” during a debate about legislation that would provide nurses with uninterrupted meal and rest periods.
Senator Maureen Walsh is facing backlash after she said that nurses in smaller hospitals “probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day”
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She opposed the legislation, saying it “does not apply” to districts like hers with many critical access hospitals, which have fewer than 25 beds.
It didn’t take long for people to point out that her words didn’t match reality
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Outraged by Walsh’s comments, nurses and everyone who sympathize with them started reacting. Chicago nurse Juliana Bindas even created an online petition Saturday that calls on Walsh to shadow a nurse for a 12-hour shift. As of this article, over 764,000 people have signed it. Many of them showed their outrage on social media as well.
One of the outraged nurses wrote this public letter to the senator
The public reaction has made Walsh reconsider her stance. “I want to offer my heartfelt apologies to those I offended with my comments on the Senate floor last Tuesday,” she said in a statement. “I was tired, and in the heat of argument on the Senate floor, I said some things about nurses that were taken out of context – but still they crossed the line.”
The lawmaker said she was trying to make the point that many small hospitals already face financial problems and that the bill would only make them worse.
But that didn’t stop there and people continued to flood social media with their reactions
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According to USA TODAY, The Washington State Nurses Association website crashed on Friday after too many people viewed a blog post describing Walsh’s comments as disrespectful and patronizing.
Also, the state nursing association said recruiting nurses to rural hospitals is already challenging. The organization believes that denying them uninterrupted breaks and imposing mandatory overtime would further complicate the hiring process.
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Walsh was arguing in support of an amendment that would exempt rural and smaller hospitals from a bill that would guarantee uninterrupted breaks for nurses. She had also introduced another amendment to the bill that would prohibit nurses from working more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period. On Tuesday, the Senate passed the bill with both amendments included. Walsh voted against the bill.
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And as for the petition, Walsh said she’d be happy to see how the job is actually done. “I love my nurses,” she told KOMO. “I’d be happy to come and work in a hospital with them for a while and shadow them and see their job.”
What do you think ?
Ozacoter 5 years ago
I am sorry but I will never understand how rich politicians dont give a c**p anout other human beings. There isnt enough nurses to have a normal humane 8 hour shift and she still thinks that they dont work enough? Nobody should be allowed to do 12h shifts, it is inhumane and the quality of their work will decrease.
Ozacoter 5 years ago
Goverments should invest much more time, laws and resources in ensuring proper health care.In Spain we dont have doctors or nurses enough. It is so bad thaf my sister was sick today and the next apointment that she could do to vusit her house doctor was in May... By that time she will either be cured or really sick...
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Lingon 5 years ago
Republican, who would have guessed? When I was a student, I worked at a care home for the very old and cronically sick. One day a polititian (M) from the municipal came to visit. M is the swedish equivalent of republican. He asked my boss if we closed during the summers. Like yeah, the old people become young and can take care of themselves just because it's summer? Idiots.
Foxxy 5 years ago
Nurses are vitally important in keeping people alive and comfortable. They are just as important as Drs. Nurses are the first people you see, take blood tests, administer medications, administer IVs, clean bodily fluids etc. They work long hours, often without uninterrupted breaks in an often thankless job. They are also the ones more than likely to receive abuse from drug and alcohol violence etc. They deserve so much respect.
Carol Emory 5 years ago
My neighbor's husband is in a wheelchair and spent some time at the hospital for medical procedures. She found out how the nurses rarely get a chance to eat. She tried to bring them snacks as much as possible, but the hospitals had strict rules about food consumption and breaks. This needs to change. There should be time for nurses to take care of their own basic needs. Unfortunately..there aren't enough nurses.
Load More Replies...
Ozacoter 5 years ago
I am sorry but I will never understand how rich politicians dont give a c**p anout other human beings. There isnt enough nurses to have a normal humane 8 hour shift and she still thinks that they dont work enough? Nobody should be allowed to do 12h shifts, it is inhumane and the quality of their work will decrease.
Ozacoter 5 years ago
Goverments should invest much more time, laws and resources in ensuring proper health care.In Spain we dont have doctors or nurses enough. It is so bad thaf my sister was sick today and the next apointment that she could do to vusit her house doctor was in May... By that time she will either be cured or really sick...
Load More Replies... Lingon 5 years ago
Republican, who would have guessed? When I was a student, I worked at a care home for the very old and cronically sick. One day a polititian (M) from the municipal came to visit. M is the swedish equivalent of republican. He asked my boss if we closed during the summers. Like yeah, the old people become young and can take care of themselves just because it's summer? Idiots.
Foxxy 5 years ago
Nurses are vitally important in keeping people alive and comfortable. They are just as important as Drs. Nurses are the first people you see, take blood tests, administer medications, administer IVs, clean bodily fluids etc. They work long hours, often without uninterrupted breaks in an often thankless job. They are also the ones more than likely to receive abuse from drug and alcohol violence etc. They deserve so much respect.
Carol Emory 5 years ago
My neighbor's husband is in a wheelchair and spent some time at the hospital for medical procedures. She found out how the nurses rarely get a chance to eat. She tried to bring them snacks as much as possible, but the hospitals had strict rules about food consumption and breaks. This needs to change. There should be time for nurses to take care of their own basic needs. Unfortunately..there aren't enough nurses.
Load More Replies...
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