The Numbing Reality of Nursing in Andalusia: A Vaccination Campaign That Hurts!
The Nursing Union, SATSE, is having a bit of a meltdown over the lack of reinforcements for nurses during vaccination campaigns against flu and COVID-19 in Andalusia. Now, before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s just acknowledge—these poor souls are trying to save the world one vaccine at a time, yet they’re being asked to do the work of superheroes without the benefit of superpowers!
Wake Up SAS!
It appears that despite the screaming sirens of urgency from the Nursing Union, the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) has decided to put their fingers in their ears and pretend that everything is just fine! Yes, my friends, it’s like asking a cat to take a bath—nobody wants to do it, and the consequences can be quite messy!
For yet another year, Primary Care nurses are battling through the vaccination campaigns with the equivalent of a picnic basket for weapons while facing an army of demanding patients. SATSE reports that in Córdoba, nurses are weighing the options—do we serve 120 patients in two hours, or is it coffee time? A daunting choice when the vaccines themselves might take longer to organize than to administer!
Overload? More Like Overkill!
Now, can we talk about the overload? Let’s face it; there’s overload and then there’s overload. The kind where you’re running around like a headless chicken trying to get everyone vaccinated. A nurse isn’t just a vaccine vending machine; they also plan, receive, and monitor doses while keeping a close eye on any adverse reactions. It’s like juggling chainsaws, but instead of applause, you’re just left with a pile of paperwork.
And you think that’s it? Oh no! There’s the added challenge of administering vaccines to home-bound patients—those fragile gems who need a bit of TLC but are left waiting until the end of time (or November, which might as well feel like eternity). The nurses can’t spread their resources thin when the very fabric of healthcare is ripping apart at the seams.
The Ask: Reinforcements, Please!
Furthermore, they’ve proposed extending vaccination hours into the afternoons and rewarding professionals who voluntarily engage in these vaccinations. I mean, who wouldn’t want to work an extra shift in the name of saving lives? (Sarcasm alert!)
It’s time for the powers that be to stop pretending that everything is fine and actually take a good hard look at the situation on the ground. Nurses deserve better than this. They are not just the heroes of the story—they are the foundation upon which our healthcare system stands.
The Nursing Union, SATSE, in Andalusia has denounced the lack of reinforcements for nurses in the campaigns immunization of the population against flu and covid which have been taking place in Andalusia since last September 30.
Despite previous warnings from the union organization, for yet another year the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) has forced Primary Care nurses to face vaccination campaigns without the necessary personnel reinforcements, fact that is having such an impact on a work overload of these professionals as in a reduction of the rest of the daily care activity in health centers.
Since this Wednesday, October 23, the immunization campaign, which has been taking place since the end of September, has entered a new phase adding double vaccination to those over 60 years of age and other professional groups such as security forces and bodies, penitentiary or educational institutions, without the administration having provided the health centers with enough nurses.
Overload staff
Thus, SATSE denounces that the campaign is moving forward at the expense of overload staff or reduce the rest of the daily care activity in health centers. As an example, in Córdoba the Nursing Union has records of centers where 120 patients in 2 hours for 2 nurses, and that requires more time to register the vaccine than to prepare and administer it of the same, so it represents another addition to the healthcare activity.
And SATSE remembers that Nurses not only administer vaccines, They are also responsible for planning, receiving and monitoring doses, as well as monitoring any adverse effects or reactions in patients, thus ensuring their health.
Another serious case is the difficulties in administering vaccines to patients immobilized at home, as is happening in health centers in the capital of Seville where the vaccination of these fragile or dependent patients is being delayed until the end of November due to the inability of nurses to move to homes due to the care burden to which they are subjected
Reinforcements and compensations
For all of the above, SATSE emphasizes that it is essential Full coverage of all sick leave, reductions in hours or statutory permits of staff as well as a reinforcement of the nursing staff in all Andalusian health centers to guarantee that they can carry out their work in adequate conditions and face the vaccination campaigns effectively.
In addition, the Nursing Union has also requested the SAS to adopt other measures such as extend vaccination hours to the afternoon, rewarding professionals who voluntarily carry out vaccinations during these times as stated in the plan to improve citizens’ accessibility to Primary Care services.
