Take Care of Those Who Take Care of You

Nurses are the backbone of our health care system, providing vital care and support for British Columbians in hospitals, long-term care facilities and community settings. Each of us rely on nurses to preserve our lives, health and safety during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As BC begins to lift COVID-19 restrictions, re-open social spaces, and re-schedule postponed surgeries, the health and safety of our nurses is paramount.

In addition to being on the front lines of a global health pandemic with concerns around access to personal protective equipment (PPE), nurses across the province continue to struggle with the ongoing challenges of an understaffed health care system, with 50% of nurses reporting high levels of burnout.

You can help by making sure BC's nurses are protected while they work to save lives.

Support BC's nurses by writing to your MLA today to ensure all nurses who are exposed to, or test positive for COVID-19 are compensated immediately through WorkSafeBC's presumptive coverage.

You can customize the letter below before sending it to your MLA. A copy of the email will be sent to Hon. Harry Bains, Minister of Labour; Hon. Adrian Dix, Minister of Health; Norm Letnick, BC Liberal Health Critic; John Martin, BC Liberal Labour Critic; and, Adam Olsen, Green Party, Interim Leader.

It's time to take care of those, who take care of you.

Select your MLA

Find your MLA by postal code

Dear MLA,

Nurses are critical to BC’s health care system. As essential health-care workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working nurses are at greater risk of contracting this novel coronavirus. WorkSafeBC (WSBC) has announced that it could take six months for legislative changes to the Workers Compensation Act to take effect – changes that will add COVID-19 to the list of occupational diseases that are presumed to be work-related. Six months is too long to wait for our nurses! Any nurse who is exposed to, or tests positive for COVID-19, needs to be compensated immediately by WorkSafeBC.

BC’s nurses are already in short supply, concerned about sufficient access to personal protective equipment (PPE) during this pandemic and facing workplace violence nearly every day. With thousands of postponed surgeries needing to be rescheduled around the province, we need nurses now more than ever to provide safe patient care.

Nurses should not have to struggle to receive support when they put their lives at risk to care for British Columbians. I support their call for immediate COVID-19 presumptive coverage inclusion, unrestricted access to PPE and protections against workplace violence.

Please demonstrate your support for nurses by providing the immediate WSBC COVID-19 presumptive coverage they need.
				
Sincerely,

Full Name

Email Address

Home Address

City

Postal Code

Updated: 6/23/2020 2:14 PM

Fast Facts

A 2020 UBC psychological health and safety workplace study found that over 50% of nurses reported high levels of burnout.
The 2018 BC Labour Market Outlook projects BC needs upwards of 25,000 more nurses by 2030 to staff BC's health care system.
Statistics from WorkSafeBC show that of all industries that have registered COVID-19 claims, 65% are from acute and long term care facilities and nurses represent 28% of the applications for compensation.*
BC Centre for Disease Control statistics show as of June 8, 2020, 136 nurses have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and account for just over 20% of coronavirus cases among health care workers in BC.
An internal poll of BCNU members in May 2020 show that 1 out of 4 nurses do not feel they have easy access to PPE when they need it.

According to WorkSafeBC the health care industry continues to be one of the most hazardous for workers in BC**. Data from 2015 shows that an average of 26 nurses per month suffered a violent injury on the job***.

*WorkSafeBC COVID-19 Claims Data by Industry

**WorkSafeBC Annual Reports,
2018, 2019

**BCNU Violence Prevention Brief, June 2019

If you are NOT receiving updates, news, and events emailed to you, log in to the BCNU Member Portal and update your information.

BCNU Member Portal