60% of Ontario registered practical nurses (RPNs) are considering quitting; RPNs to release alarming poll results at Queen's Park on Tuesday

TORONTO--()--In the middle of a health care crisis made worse by short staffing, resignations, burnout, violence and dangerous working conditions that are unsafe for patients, Ontario’s registered practical nurses (RPNs) reveal in a new poll the circumstances driving their exit from the frontline.

On Tuesday, April 25, 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 hold a media conference at Queen’s Park to urge the Ford government for an urgent nursing retention plan that would help prevent a repeat of last summer’s record emergency room closures.

The poll of more than 1000 registered practical nurses from across the province was conducted by Nanos Research and chronicles the changing high function role of RPNs in the health system over the period when the Ford government unconstitutionally suppressed their wages and presided over a record number of nursing vacancies.

Provincial and GTA-specific poll data will be made available on Tuesday.

WHO:

Pam Parks – RPN and president of CUPE 6364

 

Abiemwense Osawe – RPN

 

Dave Verch – RPN and 1st VP CUPE- Ontario Council of Hospital Unions

 

Jackie Walker – RPN and Nursing Division President, SEIU Healthcare

WHAT:

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

WHERE:

Media Studio – Queen’s Park

WHEN:

Tuesday April 25 – 9:30 a.m.

lf/cope491

Contacts

For information:
Stella Yeadon CUPE Communication 416-559-9300 syeadon@cupe.ca
Corey Johnson SEIU Healthcare 416-529-8909 c.johnson@seiuhealthcare.ca

Contacts

For information:
Stella Yeadon CUPE Communication 416-559-9300 syeadon@cupe.ca
Corey Johnson SEIU Healthcare 416-529-8909 c.johnson@seiuhealthcare.ca