Recently, RNAO Immediate Past President Dr. Vanessa Burkoski was terminated from her role as chief nursing executive at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) after speaking out for patients.

Dr. Burkoski's dismissal came just weeks after she helped introduce RNAO's new report, Mind the Safety Gap in Health System Transformation: Reclaiming the Role of the RN. It is unconscionable that she should be fired for defending patient safety.

RNAO and countless others stand with our courageous and respected nurse leader. Never in RNAO's 91-year history has a member of the association's executive been fired by their employer for advocating in their role with RNAO.

RNAO is urging health minister Dr. Eric Hoskins to independently investigate Dr. Burkoski's termination from LHSC. We are also calling for protections for health professionals against these kind of silencing measures, and for the implementation of all recommendations in the Mind the Safety Gap In Health System Transformation report.

Please help support Dr. Burkoski, and the rights of all health professionals, by signing our action alert, sharing news stories about this issue widely, and joining the discussion on social media.

Resources

Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)

• Action alert - Tell Minister Hoskins to issue an independent investigation into the termination of Dr. Burkoski from her position at LHSC
• Mind the Safety Gap in Health System Transformation: Reclaiming the Role of the RN
• Vanessa Burkoski on Mind the Safety Gap report
• Doris Grinspun on Mind the Safety Gap report
• Nursing students on Mind the Safety Gap report

Action from politicians

Media stories