Nova Scotia Nurses' Union warns staff shortages have reached critical point
Nova Scotia's unionized nurses are demanding action to address chronic staffing shortages that they say have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nova Scotia Nurses' Union held a news conference and rally at its Halifax area headquarters on Friday as part of a national day of action to bring attention to labour shortages in the country's health system.
In an interview before the event, union president Janet Hazelton said the situation in Nova Scotia is reaching a critical point in long-term and acute care after years of warnings to governments about impending problems.
"We're not just complaining about the problem, we want to be part of the solution," said Hazelton. "We are willing to work with whomever to help alleviate this issue."
She said there are about 1,100 vacancies for registered nurses in the province, 250 spots open for licensed practical nurses and 25 vacancies for nurse practitioners.
"For a province this size, that's significant," Hazelton said of the reduced staffing levels.
She said an "intolerable" situation has been compounded by the stress of dealing with the pandemic, resulting in many nurses facing burnout because of longer shifts with fewer vacations and days off.
On Wednesday, the province said "considerable staffing challenges," including a shortage of nurses that has been made worse by the pandemic, are partly to blame for long emergency room wait times and a reduction of elective surgeries.
According to data from the national union, there's been a 78 per cent increase in average weekly overtime during the pandemic, while 24-hour nursing shifts are becoming more routine in many regions, including in Nova Scotia.
The data also indicates that 83 per cent of nurses reported staffing levels that were insufficient to meet the needs of patients before the pandemic, while 60 per cent of nurses say they intend to leave their jobs in the next year.
The nursing unions are calling for increased staffing levels, increased federal funding to retain and recruit more nurses and more spaces in schools to graduate more nurses.
"We have to have something more sustainable," Hazelton said. "We have lots of young women and men on the wait lists at our universities and community colleges. What can we do to make that happen?"
Hazelton said she's seeing some positive signs of potential change from Nova Scotia's new Progressive Conservative government, which swept to power last month largely on a pledge to fix the health system.
The union president pointed out that there are now three cabinet ministers whose focus will be on bolstering aspects of the health system including mental health and long-term care.
In a news release Friday, the provincial government said it wants to hear the nurses' "unique perspective" on a health-care system in need of change.
"There are improvements to make, and our government is committed to making them to improve the system," the release said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.