Letters to the Editor

November 2004

Dear Editor

We, the undersigned, feel the need to inform the public of the critical shortage of school nurses in the city of Waterbury. Currently, there are 33 public health nurses staffing 41 school sites. Add to that the probability of 2 or more unexpected absences on any given day, and the result is a 25% shortage of coverage. Public health aides are being assigned to "cover" these schools alone. The public health aide does not serve in a professional capacity; therefore, it is crucial the public understands the role and limitations of the public health aides within the school health program. According to health policy, "The Public Health Aide is a non professional who is employed to assist the public health nurse in the delivery of a comprehensive school health program."

In 2002, the city requested the formation of steering committee to study the Health Department and make recommendations. Four key recommendations of the November 19,2002, report were:
1. Hire a Director of Nurses
2. Place a full-time nurse in every school.
3. Ensure competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain nurses.
4. Establish a nursing pool to ensure full-time nursing coverage.
To date (October 22,2004):
1. A nursing director was hired in July 2003. In September 2004, this position was transitioned into a newly created position of Assistant Director of Health.
2. There is not a full-time nurse in every school.
3. Wages and benefits remain non-competitive as evidenced by the loss of 33 nurses over the past 3 years and by comparisons with similar municipalities.
4. We do not have a nursing pool adequately staffed to provide proper coverage.

Shortly following the Steering Committee's report, the Board of Health also passed a resolution addressing some of the same concerns. The following is a summary from that resolution:

"Be it so resolved that the Waterbury Board of Health supports the need for the Waterbury Oversight Board and the City of Waterbury to reexamine the salary levels of the Waterbury Public Health School Nurses with the aim of attaining a salary level for Public Health Nurses in Waterbury that is competitive with that of Public Health Nurses in surrounding Connecticut towns and municipalities so that Waterbury will be able to attract and retain Public Health School Nurses and thus fulfill its goal of a Full-time Public Health School Nurse in every school."

Both the Steering Committee report and the Board of Health resolution were presented to the State Oversight Board, the city administration, and the Board of Aldermen.

The city's response was to hire agency nurses at double the salary for 1 year at a cost of $184,000. This does not demonstrate sound fiscal management. The nurses responded with proposals to the City of Waterbury and the State Oversight Board to address recruitment and retention issues that were dismissed.

On October 1, 2004, the nurses requested a meeting with the Mayor to discuss the critical nursing shortage and to offer solutions. The Mayor refused this request stating he will only discuss this matter with the Acting Director of Health.

We cannot continue to lose experienced, dedicated nurses in our city, especially in the midst of a critical national nursing shortage.

Ultimately, it's the children of the city that lose out of essential services and who are short changed because the city chooses to spend its money elsewhere.

It is imperative that any parents, guardians, or concerned citizens contact the Mayor's office, 574-6712; the Board of Health, 574-6780; The Board of Education, 574-8009; the Board of Aldermen; and the State Oversight Board, 574-6712, to let their concerns be known.

Signed by
Judy Calabrese, President of the Waterbury Public Health Nurses Union, and 27 other Rns

Dear Editor:

As a voter for fifty-nine years, why is it that every time the Republicans take over the White House the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class still works their two jobs to make ends meet. I watched our president giving his acceptance speech at the R.N.C. telling all the seniors what he is going to do for them. Telling them about the prescription drug bill they passed, a bill with so many options seniors have to talk to their pharmacy to find out which one is best for them. Then to add to all that two days later they hit you with the largest monthly increase in Medicare history a 17% increase plus Part B services will cost more next year and Part A another increase. What he is doing to American seniors will find us standing on the street corners with a tin cup.

Frank Hackett
Waterbury, CT

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