OCHU

OCHU RPN Committee Report 2009-2010

OCHU April Convention 2010

Committee Members

Linda O’Rourke Area 1
Miriam Lockhart Area 2
Elkin Greig Area 3
Louise Ferren Area 4
Diane Morin Area 5 and Chair
Diane Corriveau Area 6
Donna Hagarty Area 7
Judy Bain OCHU Executive Liaison
Helen Fetterly OCHU Executive
Gwen Hewitt Staff Coordinator
Margaret Evans Staff Researcher
Heather Farrow Staff Research Assistant


New OCHU RPN Brochure: RPNs in OCHU/CUPE

In June 2009, OCHU and CUPE published a beautiful pamphlet outlining all the work CUPE and OCHU RPNs have been doing defending RPN rights and working to promote the profession. A summary of the pamphlet is listed here. However, for the full colour brochure, click on: http://www.ochu.on.ca/History_rpn.html.


Bargaining: Professional practice

The central collective agreement was ratified in November 2009. It covers the period between September 29, 2009 and September 28, 2013. There are a number of gains for RPNs:
* We achieved in central bargaining a new Article 9.15 in which the parties recognize that as a self-regulating profession, nursing recognizes the importance of:
“..maintaining a dynamic practice environment which includes ongoing learning, the maintenance of competence, career development, career counseling and succession planning. The parties agree that professional development includes a diverse range of activities, including but not limited to formal academic programs; short-term continuing education activities; certification programs; independent learning committee participation…”
* The new Article 9.15 also establishes a process whereby hospitals are required to meet with the union at the very least on a quarterly basis to discuss professional development and scope of practice issues.
* We achieved in central bargaining a more detailed and effective Workload Complaint Form.


Bargaining: RPN wage increases

* We achieved in central bargaining a process to explore the feasibility of moving to standardized wage rates for RPNs across the province.

* We achieved, in local issue, bargaining wage increases of up to $1.22 an hour for RPNs in local unions that proceeded to interest arbitration, in addition to the general wage increase (GWI).

* The local award was for Ontario hospital workers in OCHU for the contract period 2006-2009.

* CUPE continues to bargain for RPN wage improvements every round of bargaining .

* For more information, please see A Brief History of CUPE RPN Wage Negotiations.

Nurses Week

Plans are underway for a renewed focus on Nurses Week 2010. OCHU/CUPE will have materials for distribution. Watch for stories in your local paper about OCHU/CUPE RPNs and the professional place they occupy as part of the nursing team in a hospital or long-term care facility!

The OCHU RPN Committee released an Ontario-wide press release during Nurses Week in May 2009 entitled “Don’t forget RPNs to ease pressures on health care system – RPNs call for full utilization”.


OCHU RPN Conferences: *September 2010 Planning

The OCHU/CUPE RPN Committee is planning another conference! The conference will take place September 27-30, 2010 in Toronto with details to be announced shortly.
A focus on full utilization, wages, benefits and working conditions will be part of large presentations and small group discussions.

June 2009 OCHU RPN Conference: OCHU RPNs: A “Key” Part of Ontario’s Nursing Solution

On June 22 – 24, 2009, more than 150 OCHU RPNs, other members and staff met at the Hyatt Regency in Toronto to discuss RPN issues and to recommend to the OCHU/CUPE RPN committee and the OCHU executive an action plan to help direct future work.

An Action Plan was created that included work on full utilization, more RPN positions, more paid professional development, mentoring, preceptorship, wage increases, more RPN committees, proper workloads, promotion and respect.

Conference speakers included:
Sister Joanne Dickie, LPN, Hospital Employees Union (HEU) – affiliated to CUPE in British Columbia.
Spoke on the need to stand united and get involved with the union. CUPE and HEU are the unions to move the LPN and RPN profession forward – 600,000 members and counting.

Lawyer Susan Ballantyne, LL.B.
Spoke about the need for RPN malpractice insurance and the new legislation that requires it (i.e.: Bill 179). RPNs need to fill out OCHU workload forms for protection – and keep a copy – when there is overwork. RPNs should insist on overtime (OT) to finish work – otherwise grieve.

Lawyer Cathy Lace, LL.B.
Spoke about how historically pay equity has helped raise RPN wages & how to maintain pay equity.

Sister Margaret Evans, Senior Research Officer, CUPE

Spoke about the history of RPN wages and the slow but steady progress through the province’s interest arbitration system.

Sister Judy Bain, RPN, OCHU VP.
Spoke about the problems with Ontario’s Nursing Graduate Guarantee (NGG) and the need for stable hospital funding to hire full-time (FT) RPNs according to the collective agreement. The NGG means OCHU part-time (PT) or casual nurses are not having the opportunity to get 7 months of CUPE FT work – with new nurses hired FT ahead of more senior PT or casual nurses.

Sister Maggie Jewell, RPN, CUPE 1909
Spoke about how her hospital (Ross Memorial) has gone from under- utilization to full utilization and the importance of having continuous professional development and an active RPN committee.

Sister Pauline Brownlee, RPN, CUPE 1623
Spoke about the importance of presentations to hospital boards on the subject of full RPN utilization – successful in Sudbury and beyond.

Sister Susan McLeod, RPN, CUPE 1781
Spoke about being a provincial Hand Hygiene coordinator – the only RPN amongst nine other Ontario coordinators and the role RPNs can play in leadership roles.

Brother Michael Hurley, OCHU President
Spoke about hospital funding and the importance of RPNs.

Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) Meetings

On December 3, 2009, OCHU/CUPE sent a delegation to the Ontario Hospital Association’s (OHA) conference called Skill Mix: Work & Role Redesign. The conference focused on “bridges” and “barriers” to proper nursing skill mix and full RPN utilization.

The conference introduction included:

• Policy drivers for finding the right mix of health care providers:
To reduce shortages of health care personnel
To respond to changes in legislation
To address labour cost issues
To respond to the introduction of new technology
Barriers need to be identified to allow health care professionals to work to full scope of practice. In 2007, 17 Demonstrations Projects were selected by the Nursing Secretariat and the ‘RN/RPN Utilization Tool-Kit Project’ is one of the projects selected for funding.

Of special interest to RPNs:

Greg Shaw, Vice-President, Strategic Resources, Ontario Hospital Association discussed the very challenging economic times, the shortage of health care professionals and the need for all health care professionals to work in interdisciplinary teams and to the fullest extent of their scope of practice. He stated ‘turf protection’ is not the answer to the needs of today’s health care system, and recognition has to be given to the expansions which have taken place in educational programs and shifts in scopes of practice.

Cindy Cruickshank, Project Co-Lead, Model of Care Initiative in Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Liz Millett, VP Patient Care, Guysborough Anigonish Strait Health Authority provided an overview of the ‘Model of Care Initiative in Nova Scotia’ a recent province-wide commitment to provide the right provider at the right time.

Marla Fryer described the ‘Coordinated Care Team Project’ at the Toronto East General Hospital. This project was instituted because patient satisfaction was lower than in peer hospitals, professionals were not working to their full scope of practice (only 50% of RNs and 20% of RPNs reported working to full scope), morale and staff satisfaction on some units were poor, with inability to recruit or retain staff in those units. Together with an impending and deepening nurse shortage, the situation was described as a ‘burning platform’ requiring improvement in inter-professional care coordination and management.


OCHU RPN Web site page

2009 marked the introduction of the OCHU/CUPE web site page for RPNs at: http://www.ochu.on.ca/regsitered_practical_nurses.html
The page highlights recent developments in the profession and specific notices relevant to all RPNs. A weekly review of RPN stories in Ontario newspapers, radio and TV are included as content on the site. As well, more than eight web sites related to RPNs are monitored weekly.
The following are examples of noteworthy reports that have been posted to the site.
For instance, a recent College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) change is explained. The CNO changed its Reflective Practice program starting in January 2010. Nurses now need to submit their Reflective Practice learning plans if selected by the CNO – instead of completing a CNO assessment tool. For more information, click on CNO “Frequently asked questions about Quality Assurance (QA)” http://www.cno.org/qa/faq.html. You can reach the CNO by calling Practice Inquiries (Practice Support Line) 1-800-387-5526 (ext. 6397) or in Toronto (416) 928-0900
(ext. 6397) or email ppd@cnomail.org.

Malpractice Insurance for RPNs

New Ontario legislation makes it mandatory that RPNs are covered by malpractice insurance – your hospital’s insurance is not enough. Here is some information from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO):

From: http://cno.org (College of Nurses of Ontario) downloaded January 15, 2010 ”

“On December 15, Ontario passed Bill 179. The new Act amends 26 health-related statutes including the Nursing Act. Although the bill has passed, the changes will not take effect until regulations are amended.”
“8. Will all nurses be required to carry professional liability protection?”
“Yes. All nurses who are registered with the College and are practicing nursing
in Ontario must have professional liability coverage.”

This requirement will not take effect until after the College has developed regulations and by-laws pertaining to professional liability protection that will specify the requirements for nurses. (highlights added)

The College will provide more information on this issue on its website and in
“The Standard.”

For a detailed review of the amendments to the bill, please click on: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2189

Another noted paper is the Nursing Health Services Research Unit’s (NHSRU)
“A Review and Evaluation of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in the Health Sector” (July 2008). The researchers found that the “risk of violence is high for Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) due to the sectors in which they work. 75% of RPNs in Long Term Care and hospitals report verbal aggression and 40% in hospital reported emotional abuse.” For the full report, go to the bottom of the page at: www.nhsru.com.


Conference Calls and Meetings

April 6, 2010
February 11, 2010
June 22-24, 2009
May 28, 2009
May 20, 2009


Respectfully submitted:


The OCHU RPN Committee