St. John’s, NL – The Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador (RNUNL) is pleased to announce that President Yvette Coffey has successfully completed the Western Region swing of her President’s Tour.
Over the past week, President Coffey met with Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) across several key communities, including Stephenville Crossing, Stephenville, Burgeo, Doyles, and Port aux Basques.
The meetings provided a vital opportunity for frontline healthcare professionals to voice their concerns and discuss pressing workplace issues directly with the union leadership. Central to these discussions were the complex challenges of delivering quality healthcare across Newfoundland and Labrador, especially in the region’s rural and remote areas.
“Throughout the tour, we are hearing from our members that they require support, coverage, and relief,” said President Yvette Coffey. “Nurses across the region, and frankly across the province, are carrying an unsustainable workload. This is not only affecting their well-being but also the quality of care they can provide to their patients.”
In response to these concerns, the RNUNL continues to advocate for a series of solutions it has put forward that are aimed at alleviating the strain on healthcare workers and improving patient care. These include the expansion of the Travel Locum Pilot Project to all rural and remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador, specifically designed to provide additional support to RNs and NPs in these areas, and the development of Nurse Practitioner-led clinics to better meet the diverse needs of communities throughout the province.
“We have proposed these solutions to the government, and we are repeating our call for immediate action. Expanding the Travel Locum Pilot Project and developing Nurse Practitioner-led clinics are critical steps that must be taken to ensure our healthcare system can continue to meet the needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” added Coffey.
The President’s Tour has now travelled to the Labrador Grenfell Region and the Western Region and will continue in the New Year with visits planned for Central, Burin Peninsula, and Avalon areas
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About Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador represents more than 5,800
registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in acute care, long-term care,
community, education, and research.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Phone: (709) 691-6890
Email: jhamel@rnunl.ca