Location: Charlottetown, P.E.I: Over 1,000 nurses from across Canada have gathered in Charlottetown for the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions biennial conference, where they are raising awareness about the ongoing staffing challenges in the healthcare industry and demanding immediate action from the government.
One of the main issues discussed at the conference is the severe shortage of nurses across the country. Nurses expressed their frustration with the lack of progress in addressing the problem and emphasized the need for concrete solutions. Linda Silas, the national president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses, called for measures such as free scholarships for nursing students, incentives to encourage part-time nurses to work full-time, and increased financial support for local nurses instead of relying on private agency nurses.
In addition to the staffing shortages, violence in the workplace was also highlighted as a major concern. Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union, stressed that the shortage of nurses leads to longer wait times for patients, putting nurses in dangerous situations. She mentioned instances of nurses being spit on and physically abused, causing some to leave the profession.
Barbara Brookins, president of the P.E.I. Nurses’ Union, commended the large turnout at the conference, emphasizing the importance of nurses coming together to shed light on these issues. She expressed optimism that the government cannot ignore the problems faced by nurses anymore, with federal funding and provincial recognition starting to acknowledge the nursing shortage.
The conference attendees, consisting of nurses from various provinces, are united in their call for public support to bring about change. They emphasized that healthcare is a collective responsibility and urged the public to stand with them in demanding improvements to the healthcare system.
According to statistics provided by the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 83 percent of nurses reported a shortage of health staff to meet patient needs. Overtime and workloads have increased since the pandemic, and there has been a significant rise in vacancies in healthcare and social assistance sectors. The shortage has led to extended shifts and high patient-to-staff ratios, resulting in nurses feeling overworked and burnt out.
The biennial conference will conclude with a major demonstration in downtown Charlottetown, where nurses will further raise awareness of their concerns and advocate for change. The hope is that the collective voice of the nursing community, along with the support of the public, will bring about much-needed improvements to the nursing profession and the healthcare system as a whole.
