VIHA

Workload pressures continue to grow while staffing levels and individual capacities plummet. Training is either abysmal or non-existant in most clinical areas. Inefficiency and incompetence at middle and upper mgmt abound, and pleas and battles for progress go ignored. Patient safety issues are everyone's biggest concern, but the stress of being overworked, understaffed, and the toxic work culture compound this concern. A lot of dedicated, hard-working people pour their blood, sweat and tears into ensuring departments hold up, while mgmt and a few bad apple colleagues across the board continually threaten to topple it all. Not to mention the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly changes to P&P and budget cuts on top of being asked to continually do more and more with less and less is enough to burn out the most hardened person. This is observed across all sites, island-wide. 

I am on call so I am finding it a challenge of getting the hours,but when I am there I become one of the healthcare team. A typical day would start at 0700 hrs in report followed by a very busy morning assisiting with your patients every needs that you are directed to care for. I find the mornings could be challenging as there is so much that needs to be done in a short time..things usually settle down after breakfast and tolieting is next,perhaps bed making if they were not done already..I think the hardest part of the job being casual and oncall is that you are floating all over so you are not as familiar with the selected residents as the regular health care worker,so time wise it takes a bit extra,but that could be the most enjoyable part as well,as I do enjoy the challenge. Most enjoyable though is making a resident smile and happy with the service provided.I am forever learning something new,such as different lift techniques.

The hardest part about working for this company is having to start out casual and not being able to plan your week because you can get a call at 5 am to come in at 7 on a regular basis. You really have to be willing to be flexible for until a permanent position opens up. Also because there is often short staffing, at least for me, I sometimes felt like I was thrown into a high pressure position without adequate training. Luckily my colleagues were fantastic and were always helpful and willing to help me learn and adjust. Other than that VIHA is great with fair wages and opportunities for advancement.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Best Employer I had right out of University.  I wish I was still employed there now, unfortunately FHA is not the same, sadly.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Nothing, alot of experience given in every place I worked from Acute to Outpatient/Rehab. Team workplace was fantastic! Wish I still work there!

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Professional, inclusive, hands on experience ; teaching on the job.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Assisting PT with Patient care; mobility;  exercise programs; Stoke Units; LTC; Surgical Units;Rehabilitation Programs.

I absolutely love my job, I love the management, the staff and the residents. I wish I was able to get more hours but understand that there is a seniority list to be followed. In a typical day the previous staff usually has all of their paper work completed so you can focus on your work. They have little notes on issues that had arisen and pass them on to you so you know what has gone on that day or previous day. The hardest part of the day is just how busy it can get but everyone is always there to help when asked. I cannot say enough positive things about the place and its staff and residents

I work on the surgical unit, so I have learned a lot about how to help people recovering from things like joint replacements, bowel resections, hernias...etc. 
Pro's- you get to help someone that may not be able to help them self as they come out of surgery, you get to educate and maintain their dignity as you may be doing something that that person would otherwise be able to do for themselves. (personal care)
Cons- sometimes you are constantly on your feet running back and forth answering call bells and it can be very exhausting.

You are expected to keep taking on more and more work. Most days you get pulled to other areas to help, along with still expected to maintain your own work area. Very little respect from management, the pay in not worth it, for all the responsibility you have. I find that the Doctors find more value in your work. The other workers are great, and kind, and make you feel appreciated. Once the Liberals came in and cut up our contract, which meant a huge wage loss, you just new you would never recover. I will say that the benefits are good, but at the end of the day, its hard to survive on the hourly rate.

As a casual you have no status with the organization, except seniority which can hurt you unless you are most senior.
Work is good but broken up into 2 week assignments, so you never know where you are working or when. You are assigned at what ever site the work is at so you have to travel on your own time and money to work. Example work in Cumberland is 1 1/2 hour away so you leave home at 6:30 am and return home at 5:30pm and spend $30.00 in gas.

For some reason workplace culture is a struggle.  The work to home relationship is great.  The work itself is busy and coincides with the job descriptions. Pay is compensatory.  Where it seems to falter is at the management level.  I have worked in three different departments, two where the managerial staff were miserable and they let that flow down hill.  With no responsibility taken of their own.  It is hard to watch what happens to the underpaying team.  Staff leave after  25-28 years on stress leave etc

Schedules came the night before & can change constantly. be very flexible, 
fast work days
time management is expected
be adaptable to constant changes 
Have a good sense of humor, friendliness & compassion will serve you well. Management can be toxic; night shift is great. You’ll use your full skill set & more.
I learned so much, but became burnt out from covid nonsense. Hours can be as long as you want. Seniors are awesome 


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