Don’t Hang Us Out to Dry
It is no secret that the public healthcare system in NL is broken. In response to a worsening situation, the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNU) kicked-off a poignant campaign this morning to communicate the crisis in healthcare as it relates to registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs).
“Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners have been holding our province’s healthcare system together for too long. They have been showing up, exhausting themselves, saving lives and jumping over never-ending hurdles for years,” said Yvette Coffey, RNU President. “Right now, we are at the bargaining table, very focused on getting a collective agreement for our members. We are hopeful that we are nearly there. But a contract is just a very important first step to retaining RNs and NPs in this province. That’s why our messaging today is so important.”
Joined by the RNUNL executive and Board of Directors, RNU members, and other stakeholders, Yvette Coffey unveiled a new campaign that uses classic Newfoundland and Labrador clothesline imagery to illustrate how RNs and NPs are being “hung out to dry”.
“RNs and NPs are invaluable to the province’s healthcare system, and it must be recognized,” explained Coffey. “Our members are leaving this profession every day. If things don’t improve and without a focus on retention efforts, we will continue to hemorrhage nurses. The system will not survive if we continue to lose these vital healthcare professionals – something the RNU has been saying for years! RNs and NPs can’t keep waiting for things to get better.”
The RNU has been advocating for change for many, many years. Before today the most recent campaign entitled “Beyond Broken, but Not Beyond Repair” pointed to similar issues and challenges facing its membership. This newest campaign reinforces the same messaging, but with more urgency. Hung out to Dry is a call to action.
“We all deserve to operate in a stable, effective, efficient, and safe healthcare system. RNs, NPs, and patients,” said Coffey. “It is time to show RNs and NPs that they are valued. It’s time to stabilize our workforce. It’s time to invest in strong, robust public healthcare.”
The RNU is asking its membership and all residents to take part in the campaign by wearing a clothespin in solidarity with the RNs and NPs of the province. Members are encouraged to hang their uniforms on clotheslines and share pictures on their social media accounts.