May 16, 2022
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario conducted a survey during the height of Ont.’s third wave of COVID-19 in 2021 and collected responses from 5,200 nurses - most of which were from Ont. It found that:
- Over 75% were classified as “burnt out,” with higher percentages reported among those in hospital and front-line workers;
- 73% said their workloads had increased moderately or significantly during the pandemic;
- Only 26% took time off of work to manage stress, anxiety or other mental health issues related to working during the pandemic, or to prevent or deal with burnout; and
- A total of 69% said they planned to leave their position within five years.
The report includes recommendations such as increasing the RN workforce by expediting applications and finding pathways for internationally educated nurses living in Ont. to join the workforce and establishing a nursing task force to make recommendations on retention and recruitment.
Related:
'It's non-stop': Medical association says healthcare worker burnout has doubled since pandemic - CTV News