Even with the COVID-19 pandemic officially over, many nurses are still thinking about quitting the profession.
A recent poll conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and SEIU Healthcare determined 60 per cent of registered practical nurses have considered leaving. That's about 36,500 RPN considering a career change.
Dianne Martin, CEO of the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, indicated that working conditions are not getting any better, and it's affecting patient care.
"Nurses are increasingly finding the job very hard to continue to try to do under all of the barriers they are facing," said Martin. "To the point where, for their own health, and because they can't really tolerate any longer providing less than ideal care, due to those barriers, that they feel that there is probably a better place and a healthier place for them to be than nursing."
The association is calling for more competitive wages and legislation establishing nurse-to-patient ratios to enhance patient safety.
"Different jurisdictions in the United States that have already done this, nurse to patient ratios, are experiencing a real increase in retention of nurses and an increase in job satisfaction among nurses because they are able to do quality care," said Martin.
She's asking community members to advocate for similar standards in the province.
"Let them know that it's time to make nursing a very rewarding and respected profession again. It's incredibly important because all of us are going to need a nurse someday," said Martin.
