The Registered Nurses’ Union is working through childcare issues as it relates to front-line healthcare staff.

The plight of nurses has been well-documented over the course of the pandemic.

RNUNL President Yvette Coffey notes that because of the recent St. John’s metro outbreak, many staff have been asked to step up, and retired nurses have been called in to help with shortages due to staff being in isolation.

Now, that stress has been coupled with educational needs. Daycares are not responsible for ensuring school-age kids are participating in online learning, leaving some workers in a difficult situation.

Coffey states that there are no easy answers, but the health authorities and the Department of Education have agreed to work towards solutions.

She says the health authorities have agreed to be flexible with scheduling to accommodate daytime learning, and any issues that cannot be resolved at that level can be brought to the Department of Education for discussion.