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Message from the Registrar & CEO for all nurses and midwives: working in a pandemic


Sep 8, 2021

We are now over 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. While there have been moments of triumph and great progress made, it's hard to see an end in sight. With the fourth wave of the pandemic upon us, the system and those that work within it continue to be under extended and widespread strain. The challenges of providing care during this pandemic are not new, but the public discourse about vaccine passports and its impact on health professionals is.

While BCCNM recognizes the right of Canadians to peaceful protest, the college was extremely disappointed by protests at various hospitals on Sept. 1. These events directly impacted the delivery of care, health-care workers and staff, health-care organizations, clients, patients and others; this is unacceptable. It was particularly disheartening to see health-care workers, including nurses and midwives, being threatened an​​​d abused, when they should be respected and commended for their dedication and sacrifices.

To nurses and midwives working with limited resources

We know you are being asked to do more than ever before and are expected to work in different ways. You have shown great compassion for, and dedication to, your clients and patients and their families every day. We understand that you are exhausted, stressed, and concerned about your ability to maintain the standards of nursing and midwifery practice. 

We've heard from nurses and midwives who are finding it difficult to provide the optimal care they are used to providing due to circumstances outside of their control. They are concerned about being reported to the college. You may share these fears. We want to assure you that when reviewing and investigating complaints, the standard of care expected of nurses and midwives is always considered in context. Each complaint is carefully assessed and the environment of the registrant's practice setting is always considered. We understand that the prospect of a complaint and/or investigation by the college is stressful, but we want to assure you that BCCNM always strives to be fair and balanced in how we handle each and every complaint.

Further information about the complaint and investigation process is available on our website.

Questions about your practice

We recognize that this extraordin​ary and uncertain time presents challenges for your practice, and you may have questions. You are expected to follow employer policies and procedures, and we encourage you to seek out any relevant resources they may have available.

If you need more information or wish to speak with someone about a practice question or concern, please contact one of our Regulatory Practice Consultants.

You can also visit the covid resource centres: ​ LPNNPRMRNRPN.

Thank you for all that you do.​

Cynthia Johansen
BCCNM Registrar & ​CEO