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Rising to the Challenge: RNU’s new Strategic Plan
April 8, 2022
Earlier this year, RNU released its 2022-2024 Strategic-Plan. The plan describes how RNU will rise to meet the opportunities and many challenges that face our members and union. Our Strategic Plan outlines how we will be there for registered nurses and nurse practitioners, defend their rights, and build a better future for nursing in our province.
“RNU members and nurses across the country are being challenged like never before with unimaginable workloads, unfair expectations, chronic staffing shortages and COVID-19,” says Yvette Coffey, RNU President. “With even more uncertainty on the horizon, it was critical to develop a well-thought out plan to ensure we best serve our members during these unprecedented times.”
The 2022-2024 Strategic Plan was developed in a very different time from the union’s previous plan. For two days last fall, the board of directors and staff of RNU met for a respectful and lively exchange of ideas and strategy.
“The insights, experiences, and frustrations of our members helped shape this plan. We will need the help of our members to make the plan’s goals and actions a reality,” says Coffey.
The Strategic Plan has 31 actions that fall under three main strategic directions:
- Enhance and protect the roles and lives of the registered nurse and nurse practitioner;
- Strengthen RNU’s capacity to serve our members; and
- Navigate and respond to the changing health care and political environment.
RNU staff will execute the plan, with oversight and advisement from the RNU Board of Directors. Goal setting and implementation will be reviewed quarterly.
“Now is a critical turning point to build a better RNU and a better future for RNs, NPs, ” added Coffey. “We are a strong union, and we are even stronger when we are organized and working together. I truly believe ‘there ain’t no power like the power of nurses because the power of nurses won’t stop!’”
Here is an overview of the three strategic directions. Read the plan to see the 31 actions which fall under these directions.
Enhance and protect the roles and lives of the registered nurse and nurse practitioner
RNU’s mandate is to champion the registered nurse and nurse practitioner and enhance their work lives through education, advocacy and collective bargaining. Within today’s challenging work environment, it is critically important we continue to strengthen the existing practices designed to enhance the work lives of our membership. There are structures in place to facilitate this work, but we need to continually monitor and update these features to ensure that our membership is protected. This includes strengthening the Professional Practice Process to make it a more effective tool, re-invigorating the Clarity Project to champion the role of RNs and NPs, and enhancing the work lives of our members by advocating for their physical and psychological safety, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within RNU.
Strengthen RNU’s capacity to serve our members
Serving our membership is a top priority, and to do so effectively we must have the internal capacity to respond to member needs. This requires providing adequate resources to RNU staff and volunteers. Building our internal capacity will help us better meet the needs of our membership. We are committed to strategies that strengthen communication channels throughout the organization. To ensure RNU resources adequately serve our members, we will complete an organizational review and assess our volunteer structure and resources within provincial office.
Navigate and respond to the changing health care and political environment
RNU will continue to support and advocate for accessible, public health care for the people of the province, while acknowledging that we live in a time of change. RNU will remain actively involved in the evolution of health transformation and is committed to being engaged at the highest levels of decision-making to advocate on behalf of its members. This includes actively participating in health care transformation initiatives to advocate for our members and safe patient care and protecting the collective bargaining process.
