Ontario nursing unions want more money to stop exodus of registered practical nurses

In the quiet corners of almost every health care setting she visits, registered nurse Pam Parks says she often sees fellow nurses overwhelmed or crying.

Parks, who has over 30 years of experience in the role, says many nurses are now walking away from the job — some retiring and others, even just a few years into profession, choosing to leave because of burnout and stress. 

"They are at work and they're breaking down…the lunchroom, the change room…people are crying," said Parks, who is also the president of CUPE 6364, the union representing thousands of workers at Lakeridge Health in Durham region.

"You hear, 'I just can't do it anymore.' The workload is just crazy."

It's an observation that's borne out by a new survey commissioned by CUPE and carried out by Nanos Research that found the majority of registered practical nurses who participated are considering heading for an exit. The survey, conducted by telephone, included 1029 registered practical nurses with CUPE and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 

It also found the majority of the workers who responded often work in short-staffed environments and dread coming to work.

More than 81 per cent of respondents reported high rates of stress, nearly two thirds reported trouble sleeping and more than half reported sadness and less pride in being a registered practical nurse (RPN). 

Also emerging from the survey, a figure indicating that the mass exodus of RPNs could be curbed if there's more money injected into their paychecks.

Three out of four survey participants said a wage increase to $35 per hour would make them more likely or somewhat more likely to stay in the profession. That finding is part of why union representatives are calling on the government to increase wages for RPNs now, saying short-staffing begets some other issues.

"Even though we're talking about dollars, I think if they get the recognition that they're worth what they're working for, you may have a few people staying," said Parks. 

"If you don't look after us, you're not going to have anyone to look after the patients," she said. 

Vice-president of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Workers, Dave Verch, told CBC News most RPNs are currently making $31.18.

The union has an arbitration date in May that re-opens the possibility of a wage increase — something that wasn't possible while Bill 124, which restricted public sector wages, was still in force. 

Ed Rousselle, an RPN at Ottawa hospital Bruyère Continuing Care, is nearing an age when he could retire.