2024 SUNstoppable Action

SUN members have a voice and mechanism for action to create healthy, quality work environments for safer patient care …. and it works!

Congratulations to the SUN Locals, Nursing Advisory Committees, and members who completed Work Situation Reports to improve registered nursing practice, workload, support, resources, and patient safety in their workplaces.

  • Davidson Health Centre
  • Moose Jaw, Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital
  • Moose Jaw, Providence Place
  • Prince Albert, Victoria Hospital
  • Saskatoon City Hospital
  • Saskatoon Community Mental Health Services
  • Saskatoon, Royal University Hospital
  • Saskatoon, St. Paul’s Hospital

Primary themes documented included:

  • Changing patient population, care requirements, acuity & complexity
  • Excess workload
  • Inability to meet legislated, regulatory, professional or organizational responsibilities
  • Inadequate clinical support & mentorship
  • Insufficient registered nurse baseline, staff complement & support staff

Achievements Included:

  • Registered nurse baseline & Charge Nurse assignment
  • Clinical Resource Nurses, Clinical Nurse Educators, & Clinical Coordinators
  • Relief Lines
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Support Staff

Consistent documentation of professional practice, staffing and workload concerns on WSRs and continued persistence by Locals and Nursing Advisory Committees have led to these achievements.  Additional gains were achieved due to monthly Joint meetings, utilization of Article 37.12 data, and follow-up on non-binding recommendations obtained in prior IAC decisions.

It is important to note that additional work arising from non-binding recommendations received in Independent Assessment Committee decisions, collaborative problem-solving, and persistence by Locals prevented additional escalations to the Board of Directors.  

Local NAC Chairpersons should contact their Nurse Practice Officer to ensure all NAC gains and successes are documented for member communication.

2024 Professional Practice Escalations

If a Joint Nursing Advisory Committee cannot resolve Work Situation Reports (WSRs) documenting workload and/or professional practice concerns, collaborative problem-solving is considered exhausted. If the Local chooses escalation, the next action is to escalate the WSRs that have been reviewed in at least two meetings using the articles of the collective agreement. This is how we create change in professional practice and find solutions.

The path to workload and professional practice solutions involving registered nurse work and responsibilities requires the presentation of the matters to the Board of the Employer (e.g., Saskatchewan Health Authority). If an unsatisfactory response is received, then Locals and SUN Provincial have a final path with the Independent Assessment Committee comprised of a three-member independent expert panel of registered nurses.    

Saskatchewan Health Authority – Board of Directors:  8 Referrals

In 2024, 5 new referrals and presentations were completed, escalating 263 total WSRs from members for which solutions could not be found through collaborative problem-solving at the Joint Nursing Advisory Committee or with Unit Leadership. 

  • Regina General Hospital – Unit 3E Internal Medicine Unit
  • Regina General Hospital – Emergency Department
  • Saskatoon District Public Health and Other Community Nurses - Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections Services and Resource (SSAR)
  • Swift Current, Cypress Regional Hospital – Medical/Surgical Department
  • Saskatoon City Hospital – Transitional Care Unit

Two additional Saskatchewan Health Authority Board of Directors referrals were sent and scheduled for presentation in 2024. However, they were placed into abeyance when acceptable Employer offers were received, providing RN (Nurse B & C) permanent and temporary staffing increases to satisfy the member concerns.

  • Royal University Hospital – The RNs Specialized in Wounds, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOC)
  • Saskatoon District Public Health and Other Community Nurses – Communicable Disease Control (CDC)

Pending Presentation:

  • January 20, 2025:  Yorkton Regional Health Centre – Unit 3 South Surgery

Should the Board of Directors fail to make appropriate recommendations following the presentation, the matter will be referred to the Independent Assessment Committee (IAC).

Independent Assessment Committee

It was an active year for Locals and SUN Provincial, with 6 IAC referrals, 1 referral placed into abeyance, 4 IAC Hearings completed, and 2 hearings scheduled in early 2025. 

A clear message was received that the ability of registered nurses to fulfill their legislated, regulatory, professional, and organizational obligations, have appropriate staffing complements and supports, orientation and mentorship enhancement, patient safety, and healthy, quality work environments require active change within workplaces for improvement. 

IAC Referral – Abeyance:

  • Royal University Hospital—Coronary Care Unit:  The referral to an IAC Hearing was placed into abeyance in 2024, following receipt of an Employer offer to increase RN baseline staffing and unit assistance coverage.

IAC Decision & Binding Recommendations Finalized:

  • Pasqua Hospital – Unit 3B Collaborative Inpatient Care Unit

IAC Decision & Binding Recommendations In-Progress:

  • Regina General Hospital – Unit 3E Internal Medicine Unit
  • Regina General Hospital – Emergency Department

IAC Decision Pending:

  • January 2025:   Saskatoon District Public Health and Other Community Nurses - Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections Services and Resources (SSAR)

IAC Tour & Hearing In-Progress

  • January 2025:  Swift Current, Cypress Regional Hospital – Medical/Surgical Department
  • TBD:  Saskatoon City Hospital – Transitional Care Unit

Watch for future SUNstoppable Spotlight communications to keep updated on the successes received for outstanding Locals. 

To learn more about previously concluded Independent Assessment Committee decisions, see SUNstoppable Spotlight.