What are my accountabilities during a strike?

Nurses are expected to make decisions in the best interest of the public and demonstrate leadership and accountability when considering their professional and personal obligations.

Although the College has no role in labour disputes, it does have a role in ensuring that nurses (both staff nurses and nurse administrators) fulfil their professional obligations to clients.

All nurses are accountable for taking action when client care is compromised. This accountability includes identifying and advocating for strategies to minimize and resolve situations that could result in clients being left without needed nursing services. Nurse managers and administrators can demonstrate leadership by advocating for, and implementing, care delivery processes, organizational supports and communication.

The following principles will help guide the nurse’s decisions and actions:

• The safety and well-being of the client is of primary concern

• Critical appraisal of the factors in any situation is the foundation of clinical decision-making and professional judgment

• Nurses are accountable for their own actions and decisions and do not act solely on the direction of others

For more information, read Code of Conduct, and Conflict Prevention and Management.