Union vs Non-Union

I am a Registered Nurse practicing in Ontario at an acute care facility. I have specifically been involved with the Trauma population for the last 11 years. In the last 3 months I have moved from working at the bedside to being in a leadership role as an Advanced Practice Nurse. My role has moved from frontline/bedside to one that focuses more on education, quality assurance and quality improvement. With this move to leadership I have also moved from being a unionized clinician to a non-unionized clinician. The delineation between the two is important as I can sometimes become involved in hiring new staff as well as, when necessary, discipline when it is related to practice concerns. In the event that a staff member requires disciplinary action or follow up it is important that there is no conflict at the table so that we can ensure best practice and a quality patient experience remain the focus; where the unionized person will always have representation by their Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) lead, I must sit to represent best practice.

As a registered nurse, like my unionized collogues, we all practice under the Nursing Act (CNO, 2018b). The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (CNO, 2018a) indicates that “Nursing standards are expectations that contribute to public protection. They inform nurses of their accountabilities and the public of what to expect of nurses. Standards apply to all nurses regardless of their role, job description or area of practice.” (p. 3)

College of Nurses Ontario (CNO). (2018a). The Standards of Care. Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41071_decisions.pdf

College of Nurses Ontario (CNO). (2018). Legislation and Regulation An Introduction to the Nursing Act, 1991. Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41064_fsnursingact.pdf

Ontario Nurses Association (ONA). (2019). About ONA. Retrieved from https://www.ona.org/about-ona/our-vision-mission-and-history/