Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Registered nurses are working scared

Today was scary for many nurses at Sacred Heart. We used words like “picketing” and “strike.” Over the years, we’ve bargained for benefits equal to those of other nurses at other major medical centers, but this year is different.

We’re frightened because we come to work too understaffed to adequately care for our patients. We’re mad because nobody listens. We’re lucky if nothing bad happens or we catch a change in the patient so nothing worse happens. We punch out with a sigh of relief.

We’re insulted because we’re refused input on staffing guidelines, supposedly because we can’t understand the budgetary issues.

Excuse me? It’s hard to believe the few who formulate these guidelines know more than the hundreds of college-educated men and women who own homes, pay bills and care for patients every day.

Daily, we’re asked to do more and more with less and less. Aides replace licensed staff. Medical care is expensive. Did you pay for and expect the expertise of a registered nurse or an aide?

Patients who once recuperated in the hospital now go home. Patients once sent to intensive care now go to nursing units. Patients who go to intensive care today would’ve been gone to heaven 20 years ago.

Yet, great advances in medicine and surgery would mean little without diligent, 24-hour hospital care from registered nurses. We know this, as do our patients and most doctors. Sister Peter Claver knew this.

How come Sacred Heart administration doesn’t? I’m scared. Linda M. Conger, R.N. C.R.N.I. Newman Lake

Nurses seek to protect quality of care

Picture this: You have just had major surgery. You feel nauseated and in pain. What do you need at this moment? Attention, care, professional nursing judgment, excellent assessment skills, empathy.

In short, you need a nurse.

Sacred Heart Medical Center nurses are involved in a contract dispute with the hospital’s administration. A most critical issue concerns nurses’ rights to an equal voice in staffing decisions. Sacred Heart Medical Center says its administration has sole authority to determine staffing.

As a registered nurse with a quarter century of experience, I know how many patients I can reasonably care for. In addition to bedside care, I communicate patient status and needs to the physician, coordinate care with those in other disciplines and educate the patient and family.

Beyond this, in any group of patients, some will develop complications. If subtle changes are observed by the nurse, who has the expertise to assess and intervene in a timely manner, the patient can thrive. If the nurse is stretched too thin, has too many patients and too little time to devote to them, quality of care suffers - and disaster can occur.

Nurses have a professional and moral mandate to advocate for patients. The Washington State Nurses Association, our bargaining unit, is demanding a contract that gives nurses this voice in the care they deliver.

Every patient deserves a nurse, and every nurse deserves the support of the public as nurses strive to maintain the quality of care we all expect and demand in this highly developed technological society. Cecilia M. Elias, RN-C, BSN Spokane

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Restaurant’s response laudable

Kudos to Players and Spectators for challenging the entire food and beverage industry to invest in the hepatitis A vaccination. The entire community will benefit if everyone in the industry adopts a pro-active approach. I know Players and Spectators to be a first-class facility. The rest of Spokane should support it in the future.

While it is a fact that three employees have contracted the illness, no patrons have contracted the illness to date. I was disappointed in the media coverage of this outbreak. Understanding that the goal is to prevent further spread of the illness, I feel the media “teasers” and reports implied that Players and Spectators is the sole source of the outbreak. Who else contracted the illness, and from what source? William C. Arnold Spokane

Put food handlers in gloves

It’s surprising and disgusting to see how many new cases of hepatitis A are springing up. It should be mandatory for all health food workers to wear gloves, since many can’t be relied on to wash their hands properly after using the bathroom.

Why isn’t there a city ordinance to this effect? It would be much cheaper for restaurant owners to require their employees to wear disposable gloves than to give them the shots. I realize that there are some specialized food items which would be difficult to handle with gloves on, but for the majority of cooking, bring on the gloves! Elaine Rankin Coeur d’Alene

Hand washing absolutely vital

How important is washing our hands? As you can see, more important than most realize.

It’s something every parent ought to teach their children - and every nursing home, every school, restaurant, hospital, the list goes on. It’s so vitally important to teach the washing of hands with a disinfectant soap every time you use the restroom.

Because of people not following through with their obligation as an employee, things like hepatitis A show up. This illness is not pleasant. It can cause liver damage that ranges from mild to severe. I know this from experience.

A hepatitis incident puts employers in a bad situation. Restaurants lose lots of money and can lose their business.

I thank Players and Spectators owner H.T. Higgins for what he has done and for challenging other restaurant owners. I hope they all follow through and make their places safer for people to eat. Karen L. Weber Spokane

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Support Cheney District measures

Recently, I showed my Eastern Washington University budgeting class the video, “Affluenza,” which portrays horror stories of consumerism and the gluttons we have become in the United States.

A school district superintendent was interviewed who sadly admitted his school hadn’t passed a levy since 1982, and the district resorted to commercial advertising to fund capital items. Yellow school buses, used as billboards, advertised Mountain Dew and Tootsie Rolls - educating students to become consumers. Another elementary school was experimenting with only one recess a day, so it could squeeze in the equivalent of three “educational” school days by year’s end.

I’m thankful to be a part of the Cheney School District.

The past four years have been eye-openers. I had no idea how hard teachers, staff and principals worked these days and how incredibly devoted they are to our children.

Warm welcomes are given to my EWU students when cooperative activities are organized and the staff supports parents in dozens of ways that warm your heart. From the hearty “Good morning!s” right off the school bus to hugs at the end of the day, staff people go 90 miles an hour - smiling!

Let’s stand behind our schools to support a capital levy providing first-rate technology for an increase of only $1.01 in our taxes, along with renewal of the two-year maintenance and operations levy.

Hooray for public education and a supportive public that passes levys, instead of yellow school buses with ads plastered on the sides. Barb J. Brock, professor of recreation management Eastern Washington University, Cheney

Fund more computers? Just vote no

In “Computers help classrooms click” (Jan. 18), I read of all of the benefits of computers in the classroom and how they will keep schools on the cutting edge.

What a shame that our school boards and governments have deluded themselves, and are attempting to delude us, into thinking our children cannot live without computers and the Internet. They talk as if this is the new panacea to revitalize our malignant education system and that will bring the next generation out of its tailspin and onto the road to higher-level thinking.

What I see is someone in the background, smiling and making a great deal of money off of this - and it won’t be the taxpayer (who’s footing the bill); it won’t be the student who’s wasted countless hours exploring the Internet looking for useful information amongst all of the superfluous fluff; nor will it be the parent who, along with the school boards, thinks this will make Johnny better able to read and think.

Computers won’t make your child a successful student. It is you, the parent (not the teacher), who will make your child successful in school. It is your duty and responsibility. They need your help, your discipline and your training to get them through the educational process.

Don’t abdicate your responsibility of teaching your child over to the school system and don’t be sold something that will only lead to more bond levies in order to maintain. Don’t open Pandora’s box unless your willing to live with the cost. Eric S. Fugitt Spokane

Back Spokane schools on Feb. 3

The Jan. 18 editorial was exactly right. Spokane’s schools should be supported by everyone, and we should all support the Feb. 3 bond issue and the maintenance and operation levy.

The time has come to renovate 83-year-old Lewis and Clark High School so it will serve our kids for another 85 years. While the structure is sound, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are far beyond their prime.

A new Browne Elementary, additions at Rogers and North Central, and upgrades at Garry Middle School, Ferris and Shadle are just a few of the other important projects.

Today’s educational demands include that our kids, who are our future, be trained to harness technology to its greatest educational advantage. The bond issue will add critically needed computers to our schools under plans that the parents and staff at each school have developed. Perhaps this is local control of our schools at its best.

These and other projects throughout our community are very deserving of our support on Feb. 3. Now is the time to support both the maintenance and operation levy, and the bond issue. My children, your children and your grandchildren will all benefit by Spokane’s support at this upcoming vote. William D. Hyslop Spokane

Children’s future up to voters

Education in Washington is changing and Spokane has the opportunity to be a leader in this change. The state has raised requirements and standards in all areas of education.

Voters will decide two measures on Feb. 3: Proposition 1, a two-year operational levy for 1999-2000; and Proposition 2, a facility improvement bond.

To maintain our current level of education and provide new programs to raise student performance, passage of the operational levy is essential. Failure would deprive our children of the quality of education necessary for them to reach their potential. Approval will help provide skills they’ll need starting a career or attending college.

The facility improvement bond provides funding for additional instructional space and modernization of existing space. It also provides funding for wiring improvements in all school buildings.

Most importantly, the bond will fund technology upgrades. Technology skills will enable our children to compete in today’s world. Public schools now are behind in providing students these essential computer skills.

Voters can continue improving our schools and help our children grow into responsible adults and assets to our community. Or, they can let either of these propositions fail and force school administrators to decide which programs to cut and which students to deprive of part of their potential. David and Marce Bauermeister Spokane