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Despite all the computerized gadgetry and innova- tive drugs In modern medicine, a registered nurse (like Mary Michel, above) Is still required to adminis- ter old-fashioned treatments like rocking a sick baby CANOE the NONQUON - SATURDAY, JUNE NO 'Just Around the Corner' 1st. Anniversary Events One Whole Week of Fun! Tuesday May 24 Saturday May 28 The Bear Shoppe announces the Best Ever Bear Contest. . . Win your Bear a friend 9:00 am - 6:00 pm & enter in one of four catagories: ¢ Smallest Bear * Largest Bear * Best Dressed Bear © Best Bonnet Judging at 12:00 noon Ee ann aa Wednesday May 25 Join us in the Wheatsheaf Café for Kids in Fashion Times: 11:00 am or 2:00 pm Our 1st Antique Show 20 Quality Dealers Tickets $12.00 for our Delicious Café lunch, dessert and coffee! China, Glass, Furniture, Jewellery. Door Prizes and morell Primitives, Tools, Memorobellia. Reserve your table early. Something for Every Collector. Thursday May 26 Join us for a fasinating show and demonstration of water colour by artist Margaret Roseman 10:30 am - 3:00 pm Many Unadvertised Sales & Events all week long so we hope you can come and join us at » JUST AROUND THE CORNER, " | 143 Perry St., Port Perry, Ontario. {in a small town where you'll love to spend the Day! Information - Barb Goodman 985-8341 ---------- Unhappy with wages, recognition Nurses leaving their jobs It's going to take more than a special week to remedy the woes of Ontario's nurses. May 8 to 14 is Nurses' Week, a few days in which the nursing profession is supposed to be rec- ognized for the work it does. It's supposed to be a week of celebration--a celebration of the profession which has been known throughout history as a caring, healing one. We, as a public, have come to see the Nurse as a gentle, quiet woman, dressed in white, with soft hands, a soft voice, and an al- most supernatural ability to ser- vice our illnesses regardless of their own feelings. When we think of a nurse, we see a smiling face. But the nurses of Ontario ha- ven't had that much to smile about lately. Disillusioned, literally over- worked and underpaid, nurses are leaving their profession--if not in droves, then in enough numbers to close operating rooms and re- duce the number of beds in some of the province's busiest hospi- tals. The public, becoming aware of the problem, is beginning to as- sume there is a "nursing short- age", but the Ontario Nurses' As- sociation says that isn't true. According to a 1987 report, there are still enough registered nurses in Ontario to fill positions available. However, the problem is too few nurses are choosing to work in these positions. "Their much beloved profession has become intolerable." "The real story is that for many nurses, their much beloved profes- sion has become intolerable," says a position paper published by the ONA in April 1988. Basic problems include too few suport staff, excessive patient loads, increasing demands to per- form non-nursing duties, and poor work scheduling. Not to mention lack of recogni- tion, poor employer support for extra education and little say in health care management. Everywhere in the province, nurses fed up with these condi- tions are leaving the jobs they trained so long for. - PDEEA -- specializing in -- DECKS RENOVATIONS FRAMING Free Estimates All Work Fully Guaranteed 985-0742 "We will build your I'DEEA" Sincerely Ces UNIQUE GIFT BASKETS Created with care for all occasions. All gifts may be accompanied by a bouquet of helium balloons. Canada Wide & USA delivery. 985-8954 Even Port Perry's Community Memorial Hospital has lost nurs- es to other professions. Bev Brown, RN, is the president of the QNA in this area, local 164. Heft association, which basi- cally covers Community Memori- al Hospital, has a fluctuating us mbership list of approximately 50. When she started at the hospital in 1972, the nurse ratio was high- er than it is now--four nurses a shift compared to three. At the time, nurses were mak- ing approximately $22 a shift. Because of the poor pay, and other unfavourable working condi- tions, the ONA was formed and in 1975, won its first big contract, raising nurses*salaries. Nurses' salaries, of course, come from the taxpayer via government, and when pay cheques went up, the government cut back on the Rinber of nursing jobs at hospi- tals. So these days Mrs. Brown says there are three RN's on each shift-- (Turn to page 24) ori reer reee When you're sick, you want attention--not just med- icine, and the nurses at Port Perry Community Memo- rial Hospital always manage a few words, despite hec- tic schedules. Above, RN Helen Green chats with pa- tient Ruby Fielding. AE e. | Guaranteed Higher Interest Investment on Your Investments Certificates 1 0% SHORT TERM 5 YEAR TERM DEPOSITS QU% 1 YEAR TERM Minimum Deposit $500. 73% 30 to 59 DAYS Min. Deposit $5,000. RATES SHOWN -- PER ANNUM y Special rates also available on other amounts. All rates subject to change without notice. STANDARD TRUST Member of Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation 165 Queen St., Port Perry Tel. 985-8435 Open Monday to Thursday 9am to 3 pm; Friday 92am to 6 pm; Saturday 9am to 1 pm