VA Health Care: Nursing Issues at the Albuquerque Medical Center Need Attention
HRD-90-65
Published: Jan 30, 1990. Publicly Released: Jan 30, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated nursing personnel's concerns about working conditions at the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, focusing on: (1) staff shortages; (2) pay; (3) patient care and safety; and (4) management attitudes.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director, VA, to contract with an independent human relations specialist to work with Albuquerque Center management and nurses to improve working relationships and facilitate the resolution of problems. |
On June 29, 1990, VA contracted with a consultant, mutually acceptable to management and center nurses, to improve working relationships and facilitate the resolution of problems.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Officer, VA, to require the Albuquerque Center director to participate in the monthly labor-management meetings at the Center and ensure that issues of concern to either group are addressed. |
Action taken is partially responsive. The director does not directly participate in the monthly labor relations meetings, but does review all proposed agenda items and provides input, guidance, and direction prior to the meeting.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director, VA, to require the Albuquerque Center director to inventory all equipment and supplies, reconcile the inventory records, and strengthen internal controls over property. |
VA established a two-cycle approach to bring the facility back to an annual schedule and began extensive efforts to inventory CMR. To resolve physical inventory problems, policies and procedures were rewritten including completing inventories on a monthly basis. CMR inventories were 100 percent completed by February 26, 1991.
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| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director, VA, to reconcile the differences between the physical requirements applicable to nurses being hired and those applicable to injured nurses returning to full duty. |
Nursing Service and Personnel Services are working on a procedure to comply with the recommendation.
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Topics
CompensationEmployee incentivesEquipment inventoriesHealth care personnelStaff utilizationLabor relationsLabor unionsPatient care servicesVeterans hospitalsWorking conditionsNurses