Nurses Week this year comes at a pivotal time in the province’s healthcare system.

The stress and strains of two years of pandemic response and ongoing issues with staffing and recruitment are taking their toll and Registered Nurses Union President Yvette Coffey says nurses are burnt out.

COVID is still resulting in staff isolating, and others who are off after contracting the virus, while the availability of beds in acute care is being affected by a shortage of beds in long-term care.

She says nurses are sad and disheartened when a patient’s surgery is cancelled, but staff are needed to safely look after patients.

She says a shortage of long-term care beds means that patients who should be in long-term care are taking up beds in acute care facilities but the personnel are just not available to look after them.

Still, Coffey says nurses are dedicated and continue to step up to fill the need. The theme for this year’s Nurses Week is “We Answer the Call” and she offers her thanks to all those who continue to go above and beyond.