Nurses Rally For Inclusion in BC's PTSD Legislation and an End to Violence Against Nurses

May 03, 2018

BCNU President Christine Sorensen was joined by the President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Linda Silas, at a rally that saw hundreds of BC's nurses marching through Vancouver streets chanting for an end to violence on the job.

At the lunch hour rally at Vancouver Art Gallery, speakers and the nurses in the crowd sent a strong message to BC's Labour Minister, the Hon. Harry Bains, that nurses need the BC government's support. Specifically, nurses are calling on the BC government to be included in the provincial government's recently passed legislation on PTSD presumption.

Nurses carried signs with messages about violent encounters experienced by them and the overall message that violence is not part of a nurse's job.

"This march is an exceptional demonstration of solidarity by our members who are unwavering in their commitment to end violence in health care settings. Nurses also believe it is imperative that the BC government include them in the presumptive PTSD legislation," said Christine Sorensen, BCNU President.

The BC government needs to support nurses and address their key issues such as violence and staffing shortages in order to succeed in improving the health care system for all British Columbians. The mental health needs of nurses must be a high priority for the government. Sorensen said, "Once you hear a nurse say, "I've gone from providing patient care to being a mental health patient' because of their work, you never forget that."

WorkSafeBC statistics from 2016 show that nurses accounted for nearly 12 percent of all mental disorder claims and over 10 percent of all claims registered for PTSD. In that same year, 76 nurses (over six per month) registered claims for PTSD.

Every single day, throughout BC nurses provide care for those who are most in need of it. "Minister Bains, nurses suffering from their work and related trauma is fixable, and we implore your government to do the right thing," continued Sorensen.

Nurses are in demand around the world-and there is currently a global nursing shortage which is being experienced in BC as well. To routinely lose half a dozen nurses a month due to PTSD ultimately compromises patient care. Violence against nurses on the job-often followed by the onset of PTSD-also forces an additional over 26 nurses a month off work in BC. WorkSafeBC statistics from over the last decade show that 40 percent of all injuries claimed by nurses were a direct result of violence in the workplace. The overall injury rate in health care due to workplace violence has increased over 50 percent since 2006.

Sorensen concluded, "Recently I toured BC and talked to members about their horrific experiences of violence as working nurses. The government needs to recognize that violence against nurses and PTSD are correlated issues-which have a direct impact on patient care. Our nurses and patients deserve action on this issue now."