The BC Nurses' Union is stepping up its efforts to highlight the struggles faced by its members as British Columbia's healthcare staffing crisis deepens.
The union says the state of nurses’ mental health is at an all-time low in part due to what they call the weight of a deteriorating health care system.
The BCNU is starting a new advertising campaign that aims to show the real pressure on the province’s health care system and those who work in it. The new campaign will run until May 15 on television, social media and digital platforms across the province, including its own microsite.
BCNU president Aman Grewal says it’s hard to hear from nurses around the province who are being asked to do more and more with less and less. In some cases, nurses are leaving the profession entirely due to excessive workloads.
“The current situation in our health care system is truly heartbreaking,” adds Grewal. “More than three-quarters of nurses have told us their mental health has worsened during the pandemic; and over half have stated their physical health has deteriorated as well. Our government must prioritize the well-being of our nurses – the future of our provincial health care system depends on it.”
The BCNU is calling on the provincial government to do more to help retain nurses and address workplace safety.
“Our nurses have been working tirelessly to provide patient care at the expense of their own health. It’s time that nurses receive the support and resources they require before more of them reach their breaking point,” Grewal says.
