Don't cut nurses

This misleading claim is based not on the best interests of patients, but on the ONA’s union rhetoric and single-minded focus on protecting jobs.

As both a registered nurse and a registered practical nurse, I am saddened to have to write this letter. But it needs to be written so people understand the issues at play. Yes, our health-care system is in peril. But health-care institutions need to be able to make decisions that create sustainable care based on the best interests of the people they serve. Sometimes, a change of staffing mix such as adding RPNs - may be the right solution. Other times, it may not.

Her letter also attacked the capabilities of RPNs. I’ve seen firsthand the animosity and feelings of devastation such attacks can have on nursing teams. In reality, RPNs are regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario and have a significant knowledge base that allows them to specialize in the care of moderately complex patients. RPNs are educated, knowledgeable and dedicated professionals who make breathtaking differences in the lives of patients every day.

Mixing RPNs and RNs can a brilliant solution as long as it’s based on patient need, not cost. But ultimately, that is a call our health-care institutions, not unions, should be making.