Workload and registered nurse staffing represent the most significant professional practice concerns, and prevent registered nurses from providing safe, competent, ethical, appropriate, and high-quality patient care.

Workload and staffing concerns are rooted in the inability to provide patient care aligned with legislative, regulatory, professional, and organizational obligations.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2017) states that safe staffing and workload strategies are foundational to healthy work environments, and “can improve nurses’ well-being and retention, improve the quality of patient care, and yield financial benefits for organizations” (p. 24).

SUN members at the front-line, and as Charge Nurses, need to use the full extent of their collective agreement to create healthy, quality work environments that are supportive and focused on registered nurses, patients, and patient safety.

Registered nurses who cannot consistently fulfil their patient care obligations because of workload, insufficient staff, support, and/or resources for safe patient care must address these concerns in real-time to protect patients and their registered nurse licence to practice.

 

Addressing Workload and Staffing Concerns:

  • Know your legislated, regulatory, and organizational responsibilities, obligations, and expectations for registered nursing practice.

  • Proactively identify workload and insufficient staffing concerns to be resolved in real-time.

  • Use Article 9.03 to address workload and staffing, in the absence of registered nurse management:

    • If additional staff are necessary, and no registered nurse management personnel are available [emphasis added], the registered nurse designated in charge shall have the authority to call such additional staff subject to criteria established by the Employer in consultation with the registered nurses in the work Unit. In the event the Employer has not established criteria, the registered nurse shall have the authority to call additional staff that in her professional opinion are necessary (SUN/SAHO, 2021, p. 26).

    • Members must communicate workload and staffing concerns based on their assessment and recommendations. If not resolved, notify your Manager/designate that a Work Situation Report (WSR) will be completed.

  • Use Article 56.03 (a)(b) to complete a WSR after using low-level resolution and consulting the Manager/designate, whether they are a registered nurse or not.

  • Document the registered nursing work, duties or obligations that cannot be completed for patients on the shift and where patient safety is at risk.

  • Contact your Local President, Nursing Advisory Committee (NAC) Chairperson, and Nurse Practice Officer/Labour Relations Officer to develop a solution plan.

  • Review Articles 56 – 58 and Appendices A–F in the SUN/SAHO collective agreement and use the professional practice and nursing advisory processes.

  • Review the SUN Provincial Professional Practice Resources to enhance your knowledge and action:

  • SUN members without WSRs or Nursing Advisory Process in their collective agreement should contact their Local President and Nurse Practice Officer to address professional practice concerns.

 

Whom to Contact

Local President/NAC Chairperson: Your Local President and NAC Chairperson are experts on your collective agreement and professional practice work environment.

Nurse Practice Officer: Your NPO at SUN Provincial is your professional practice expert assigned to Locals for support and assistance to protect your registered nursing practice and patient safety.

Labour Relations Officer: Your LRO at SUN Provincial is your labour relations expert assigned to Locals to support, advise, and protect Member interests using the collective agreement.

Regulatory Body: Your regulatory body (CRNS/CRPNS) is the regulatory expert mandated to protect the public.

Canadian Nurses Protective Society: Your regulatory body provides you with professional liability insurance through the Canadian Nurses Protective Society. You can obtain confidential legal advice, review topical info LAWs/articles, and complete professional practice webinars.

Labour Relations Officer/Nurse Practice Officer servicing assignments can be found on the SUN website, or you can contact one of the SUN Provincial offices at: