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CFNU releases a Renewed Call for Action on the Nursing Shortage

Posted on Wed, June 18, 2008 at 9:51 pm

OTTAWA, June 18 /CNW Telbec/ - 20.8% of nurses are over 55 and nearing retirement while Canadian nurses are already working over 18 million hours of overtime - equivalent to 10,000 full-time nursing positions. In spite of a plethora of studies which call for immediate action, little is being done to address the nursing shortage crisis.

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) released today a synthesis report on the nursing shortage in Canada. The report, A Renewed Call for Action, provides an overview of recent studies on the nursing crisis in Canada and makes ten specific recommendations. The report is published as a 96 page full-colour book.

The reports author's are Victor Maddalena, PhD, an Associate Professor in the School of Health Services Administration at Dalhousie University and Amanda Crupi, Research Officer with the CFNU. Maddalena said he hopes the book will prompt action beyond well-meaning words and band-aids. "They know there is a problem, but we haven't been able to get any sustained action. Its going to take more than just asking nurses finishing a 12 hour shift to stay on for more overtime or begging them to stay in working conditions that are endangering their health."

CFNU President, Linda Silas R.N., wants the book to inspire substantive concrete action. "It is not enough to keep issuing thick, bound study after study if employers and policy makers are still not getting the message," said Silas. "We felt we needed to present the good work that is being done to document and highlight the nursing shortage in a big-picture way so that policy-makers can really grasp what we are facing every day. We want them to understand that the evidence is in, solutions are available and its time for comprehensive action." Silas has been calling for a collaborative pan Canadian Health Human Resources plan involving governments, employers and health care workers.

The Canadian Federation of Nurses unions represents over 158,000 nurses and nursing students across Canada.

For further information: Linda Silas, CFNU President, (613) 859-4314 (cell); Sean Dillon-Fordyce, CFNU Communications, (613) 526-4661 x130

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