“It was my first strike and it was really empowering. It was nice to finally get out there and show everyone we are understaffed, we are overwhelmed and overworked. It was really exhilarating.

There were members of the community who asked: ‘What are you striking for?’ and wanted to know what our issues were. It was nice to share our concerns with members of the community and to really feel heard.

In the ICU, short staffing has been our major problem. There are points where people are being asked to fill two roles at once. People who are Clinical Nurse Educators have to fill roles on the floor, so they are being taken away from supporting junior staff and facilitating education and training.

Half of the general beds in ICU – one quarter of our entire ICU – is devoted to COVID patients. The dedicated cardio thoracic unit and neuroscience unit in ICU are having to take on general ICU patients.

Staff are overwhelmed. The hospital is texting us with overtime work messages: there was one day when we had seven. It is hard to switch off from work. I was on a holiday recently, and the first text message when I turned on my phone was ‘Overtime available’.

You’re trying to look after yourself, and you want to help your colleagues at work, but a lot of us are stressed and others are burnt out.

Nurses who are on night shift can wake up to three overtime messages. They ask themselves ‘What am I walking into tonight? Is it going to be safe for patients?’

— Kaylene Pring, RN, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital