ATT: CMJAH Nursing Management
It has come to the attention of the staff in 377 that Sr Dikeledi Shika, the 377 Trauma Ward Acting Operational Manager, has not been awarded the Permanent 377 Operational Manager position despite having followed due processes to interview for the post. What further disturbs us is that the post has been awarded to a nurse who ALREADY occupies an Operational Manager position in one of the other surgical wards.
1. Sr Shika has tirelessly served in the acting OM position for 377 for the last 3 years. She is trauma trained and has effectively executed her duties in this position during a time when management were unable to fill the post permanently. Trauma is a department that demands astute understanding of the needs of ILL PATIENTS and requires one to function as a VITAL LIMB in the body of the trauma department encompassing an ED, and ICU and a hybrid high care/ ward, ward 377. Sr Shika has beyond-adequately proven her salt as an OM in the trauma unit when the sudden loss of an OM brought a challenge to the department. It is concerning that nursing management would overlook a candidate of her experience and training, when management found her perfectly adequate to fulfill the duties for the last 3 years (of which she only received the salary of an acting OM for 6 months of these 3 years), but suddenly have awarded the permanent post to another with less experience in managing a trauma unit in a quaternary facility.
2. It is unfortunate that the nursing management have found another staff member, who only recently returned to the public sector, one who already occupies an OM position in another surgical ward with far less demands as a department and with a patient subset who are far less critical/ of a lower acuity. The nurse may be trauma trained, but he lacks managerial experience in a department as complex as trauma in a quaternary facility. The nurse has also depicted unbecoming professional behavior by coming to 377 to tell Sr Shika that “she should congratulate him for getting the OM position in 377,” this occurred PRIOR to Sr Shika being notified by the nursing management that she has not been awarded the post. His choice to gloat prior to timeous and formal notice being given to Sr Shika that she will be vacating her office is unprofessional and reflects poorly on the candidate that you have chosen for the position.
3. It also reflects poorly on the nursing management that they still have not formally communicated to SR Shika that she has not been awarded the permanent OM position for 377 when they have already chosen another candidate for the position. Sr Shika deserves adequate notice, and deserves notice from the nursing management, rather than hearing about her vacation from her current post “through the grapevine”.
4. Please note that the staff of the trauma department, in particular the 377 staff, are highly disappointed in the poor choice of candidate that the nursing management has chosen for the position. Please expect insubordination should you continue to overlook the stellar candidate Sr Shika, who has already served this unit in this position for the last 3 years and chose to instate another who already occupies an OM position in another ward.
Sincerely,
The Staff of CMJAH Ward 377 and the Trauma dept at large