The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNU) is responding to today’s announcement by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that it has selected a preferred proponent for the Core Staffing Review in the province.
RNU President Yvette Coffey says the move is long overdue and represents a glimmer of hope for nurses who have been holding the healthcare system together under extraordinary strain.
“It’s about time. We’ve been calling for a core staffing review for years, and this announcement is a long overdue step in the right direction,” said Coffey. “Nurses have been working under relentless pressure, doing everything they can to keep our healthcare system going while being chronically understaffed. This announcement offers a glimmer of hope to those on the front lines who are stretched to their limits.”
The Union says it is unacceptable that government has been trying to make critical decisions about healthcare staffing using data that is more than 30 years old.
“You cannot make informed, effective decisions using outdated information that no longer reflects today’s realities in healthcare,” Coffey said. “We need accurate, modern data so we can develop staffing models that actually work—for nurses, for patients, and for the public system.”
RNU says safe staffing is foundational to a functioning health system and must be treated as such.
“Safe staffing is not a privilege; it’s a right,” said Coffey. “It is essential to the safety of both patients and providers. This review must deliver real, evidence-based solutions that support nurses and improve care for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
RNU says it will continue to monitor the process closely and advocate for transparency, urgency, and meaningful engagement with frontline nurses.
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About the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNU) represents more than 5,800 registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in acute care, long-term care, community, education, and research. RNU is dedicated to advocating for quality public
healthcare and ensuring that RNs and NPs are recognized and supported in delivering expert, evidence-based care to the people of this province.
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
Phone: (709) 691-6890
Email: jhamel@rnunl.ca