MEDIA ADVISORY: MPP Fedeli, when 60% of registered practical nurses (RPNs) polled are considering quitting, why doesn’t your government care? Media conference outside North Bay hospital Thursday 10:30 a.m.

Event Information

Begins: 4 May 2023
Location: North Bay, ON

NORTH BAY, ON –/COMMUNITYWIRE/– A poll of more than 1000 Ontario registered practical nurses found that over 60% are considering leaving. At a media conference in front of the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC), May 4, 2023 – in advance of this year’s nursing week (May 8 -14), RPNs represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and SEIU Healthcare will talk about what’s driving their exodus from the front-lines.

The RPNs will also make a personal appeal to Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli to use his influence in the PC government to act swiftly to incentivize RPNs, keep many from leaving and stop the staffing crisis in health care from deepening.

The provincial poll was conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of the two unions. RPNs were asked about their experiences over the last few years working through a health care crisis, made worse by short staffing, resignations, burnout, violence, and dangerous working conditions that are unsafe for both patients and RPNs.

The poll also chronicles the changing high function role of RPNs in the health system over the period when MPP Fedeli and the PCs unconstitutionally suppressed their wages and presided over a record number of nursing vacancies.

WHO:
Sharon Richer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE)
Jackie Walker – RPN and Nursing Division President, SEIU Healthcare
Melanie Viau – RPN at the Hôpital Montfort
and OCHU-CUPE Francophone Vice-President
Kim Hamilton, RPN

WHAT:
Registered practical nurses talk about unsafe working conditions that impact patient care and release a poll of more than 1000 Ontario front-line RPNs that sheds light on Ontario’s nursing crisis.

WHERE:
Outside North Bay Regional Health Centre, 50 College Dr., North Bay

WHEN:
Thursday, May 4 – 10:30 a.m.

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For information contact:

Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications, 416-559-9300, syeadon@cupe.ca
Corey Johnson, SEIU Healthcare, 416-529-8909, c.johnson@seiuhealthcare.ca