Broke nurses tweak working schedule

Unpaid nurses have drastically reduced their working routine as they are now reporting for duty three times per week.

Government is battling to pay them June salaries and the bulk of them have no transport money. They might be paid on July 14.

Morale is said to be very low.

Reports indicate that nurses at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) increased working hours and reduced working days. They now work from 7AM to 7PM for three days and be off work for the rest of the week. A normal shift starts at 7AM and ends at 4PM.

Those on night shift will work the same 12 hours.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) secretary general Enock Dongo said "Reducing the number of days reduces costs for the nurses.

It also minimises absenteeism. The Government has to support this because their workers have to be motivated.

"Apart from transport expenses, they have to pay bills and rentals. Nurses work with a sensitive clientele that requires them to be stress free when they deliver their duties," said Dongo.

Indications are that student nurses will carry the burden of taking most duties.