Admitted to nursing school but "failed" for funding, the dismay of AP-HP agents

They are nursing assistants, childcare workers… and have worked for several years in one of the 39 hospitals of the AP-HP (Public Assistance - Paris hospitals), the largest public hospital group in Ile-de-France.

This year, 350 of them won the competitive examination, comprising only an oral test, to enter nursing school.

In the jargon, they are called the "PP", understand "professional promotions".

However, they are not sure of being able to follow the training that is so lacking in Ile-de-France.

The AP-HP refuses them funding: 21,000 euros over three years, in return for a five-year commitment to the AP.

They are 120 personnel in this situation.

The CGT and FO unions denounce a "scandal".

Read alsoIn 28 years, 12,000 beds have closed in AP-HP hospitals ... and it's not over

"We have a duplicity of the government, of our management which complains of having to close beds for lack of employees, but does not train those who wish to be", tackles Christophe Prudhomme, CGT delegate of the AP-HP.

"I am denied the possibility of evolving when there are not enough nurses!"

Among the "failures", there is Fernando, 47, a caregiver at Pitié-Salpêtrière (Paris, 13th), who for a year has been facing, at night, the successive waves of the Covid.

"It's incomprehensible," annoys the forty-something who, between two patient care, revised his examination.

"I had 20/20, I have a very good record, no absence, I have known the AP to work there for 23 years, and I am denied the possibility of developing when there is no enough nurses!

"

The Covid crisis has effectively highlighted the glaring shortage of staff: more than 3,500 vacant positions, all profiles combined according to an investigation by the ARS (regional health agency), and its consequences on bed closures: "334 in 2019 against 239 in 2018, for lack of personnel, ”according to a document from the AP-HP.

Despite the 62,100 salaried nurses in post, this profession remains under pressure.

At AP-HP, 440 general care nursing job vacancies are still to be filled.

"We feel despised"

Sarah

(the first name has been changed)

, living in the south of the region, in post for 4 years in Lariboisière (Paris, Xe), Pauline de l'Essonne, in Pompidou (Paris, XVe) for 5 years, or even Abou

(the first name has been changed)

, in Necker (Paris, 15th century) for several years also, are just as confused as Fernando.

Systematically, they ask this question: “Why?

".

“We feel despised,” continues Fernando.

Pauline, mother of two, is "devastated".

She wonders if her situation is “linked to [her] two maternity leaves.

Becoming a nurse means so much to me, but how do I access this training without funding?

», And with a net monthly salary of 1,580 euros.

Read alsoSalaries too low, bed closures, 35 hours ... the 7 wounds of the French hospital

Renounce ? Difficult to resolve. Fernando, with an income of 1800 or even 1900 euros with the bonuses, married, father of a family, considered everything. He thinks of making himself available, drawing on his savings to attend classes during the day and work at night in health on interim missions. “During the Covid, I found myself with colleagues in training who were called back in interim to strengthen our teams… It is really not coherent and it costs more money to the PA. Sarah, mother of two, thinks "taking a loan to hold on, it's going to be hard without pay." "

“Initially, only 145 laureates were to be funded under the PP, deplores Jean-Emmanuel Cabo of FO AP-HP.

Last week we secured 95 more funds.

This is not enough, we are campaigning for all the winners to be supported.

"Last year, due to the Covid crisis," few people left for training, so the ANFH

(Editor's note: fundraising organization for training for the hospital public service)

has a budget surplus, insists Christophe Prudhomme .

We proposed that this surplus finance the PPs but it was not done.

"

"30% of young people give up the job"

However, in the Ségur agreements, the training of professionals is considered as one of the levers to respond to a “context of tension over the recruitment of certain care professions”. A mission was also launched last September "to draw up an inventory of the obstacles to the engagement of agents in training and PD actions".

In this case, another underlying issue animates the unions. That of avoiding turnover. It must be said that in the region, the length of career is estimated "between 11.5 and 15.5 years for nurses, [against] 17.5 years to 21.5 at the national level", according to the survey de Défi Métiers, a public interest group. Thierry Amouroux, spokesperson for the National Union of Nursing Professionals SNPI CFE-CGC, is well aware of this. “In Ile-de-France, it is difficult to keep nurses. 30% of young people abandon the profession after having graduated because of the gap between the dream profession and reality. This is not the case with Frs. They have a knowledge of reality. These agents, we retain them, they are of a certain age, an already established family and therefore remain in the living area. "

Ranking based on agent ratings

For its part, the AP-HP defends "privileged access to training for all".

She insists: "In 2020, the cost of vocational training exceeded 77 million euros

(Editor's note: 3.2% of the payroll)

, even though the Covid mobilization limited the number of training days.

More than 40 million euros is devoted to the PP, or 1.6% of the payroll, for a regulatory obligation of 0.6%.

By far, the AP-HP is the hospital that invests the most heavily in the professional development of its agents.

"

This year, "more than 550 new professionals including 230 nursing assistants and childcare auxiliaries were funded to become state registered nurses". In 2019, they were 155 out of 350 laureates against 280 out of 300 last year, "including 50 from the donation from the Hermès Foundation". On what criteria are they chosen? “Hospital groups (GH) organize selection committees in order to establish a ranking according to the evaluations of the agents (rating, attendance, etc.) and their professional plan. "A selection deemed" too opaque, according to Fernando. Each GH does as it pleases, without ever justifying itself. "

To the list of 230 financings, "could be added a dozen agents by way of Parcoursup", reveals the AP-HP. A little hope for Fernando, always "invested and motivated" and the others who have challenged by mail Emmanuel Macron and Martin Hirsch, director general of the AP-HP, as a final appeal for help.