A nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken out about the harsh and unfair working conditions she and her colleagues face at MCMH According to her, the situation has become intolerable, forcing many healthcare workers to consider leaving their jobs.
The nurse went on to describe the physically and mentally exhausting conditions at the hospital. “We are entitled to three hours of rest during a night shift, but we’re not getting that because they don’t have enough staff. They overwork us, burn us out, and then when we get sick and complain, there’s no empathy or concern,” she explained. “I recently had an incident where I went to work in severe pain. They assigned me to work with a Cuban nurse who doesn’t speak English, so I had to do everything myself. The pain got so bad that I had to ask to leave, but the response I got was to sit down and wait until my replacement arrived.”
The nurse also highlighted issues with the hospital’s uniform policy. “We’re required to wear a white uniform, which is impractical for the hands-on work we do. We’ve asked to wear color-coded scrubs for our daily duties and reserve the white uniform for official events, but they refused. The government only provides us with the dress and shoe allowance, but we have to purchase caps, belts, and stockings out of pocket. We’ve never even been given a printed uniform policy—everything is just word of mouth.”
Frustration and low morale seem to be widespread among the staff. “Everyone is tired, fed up, and depressed. You shouldn’t have to wake up in the morning dreading going to work because of how you’re treated. It affects the care we give to patients,” she said. “I’ve only been a nurse for three years, but these issues have been going on long before I arrived. I’ve seen nurses disrespected by junior staff, and nothing is ever done about it. Meanwhile, we’re held to impossible standards.”
The nurse expressed deep concern over the hospital’s working conditions, including a lack of basic amenities. “We don’t even have a proper break room—no microwave, no kettle, no cafeteria. We have to buy unhealthy food from outside just to get through our shifts. The doctors have their own well-equipped rooms, but the nurses have to make do with a few chairs and no lockers,” she said.
Transportation is another issue, particularly for nurses working night shifts. “They provided a bus for the leeward side, but it only takes nurses home on Sunday nights, not during the week. The windward bus has to cover a larger area and often leaves before we finish our shifts. If you miss the bus, you’re stranded.”
The nurse concluded by stating her reluctance to leave her job, but acknowledged that the current situation might leave her with no other choice. “I don’t want to leave, but I feel like I’m being forced out of my country. I want to contribute, but the treatment we endure is inhumane.”