With less than a week before voters head to the polls, the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNU) has released new podcast episodes featuring candid conversations with political party leaders about the future of nursing and the public healthcare system.
In the latest series of Scrubbed In and Speaking Out, RNU President Yvette Coffey speaks with PC Leader Tony Wakeham, NDP Leader Jim Dinn, and Liberal Candidate Krista Lynn Howell, who appeared on behalf of Premier John Hogan and the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The conversations explore each party’s commitments to strengthening public healthcare, addressing the nursing shortage, and improving working conditions for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. The three episodes are now available on major platforms:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0SwoVCLr3Qf1pc7tr5hlII
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scrubbed-in-and-speaking-out/id1842840013
- YouTube (video): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIv70QvrPO6qFvekyYBbixzn0uJ0UjT_e&si=K6xtXJw1N4YOXrKY
In addition to the podcast series, all party responses to RNU’s provincial election questions are available at www.rnunl.ca/advocacy/election-2025. These questions were developed by nurses and focus on issues such as safe hours of work, nurse-patient ratios, recruitment and retention, the use of private travel nurse agencies, and hiring new nursing graduates.
“Healthcare is one of the defining issues of this election,” said RNU President Yvette Coffey. “We want voters to hear directly from each party about how they plan to strengthen the public healthcare system and support the nurses who keep it running. These conversations matter and not just to nurses, but to every person who depends on our healthcare system.”
Coffey emphasized that the union’s role during the election is non-partisan but deeply engaged in ensuring voters are informed.
“Our members are on the front lines every day, and they know the challenges in the system better than anyone,” Coffey said. “We encourage everyone to listen to these conversations, compare the parties’ responses, and ask their local candidates what they will do to make real change.”
The Scrubbed In and Speaking Out election series aims to help the public and RNU members make an informed decision when they cast their vote.
For more information, visit www.rnunl.ca/advocacy/election-2025.
-30-
About the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador represents over 5,800 registered nurses and nurse practitioners across the province, advocating for quality health care, safe working conditions, and respect for the nursing profession.
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
Tel: (709) 691-6890
Email: jhamel@rnunl.ca