HSA marks National Nursing Week with launch of new professional development fund for HSA’s registered psychiatric nurses

Health Sciences Association of BC announced today the establishment of a $115,000 Professional Development Fund available to all registered psychiatric nurses who are members of HSA.

“Registered psychiatric nurses are critical members of the health care team. HSA recognizes the importance of continuing education for health care professionals who deliver important care in a specialized field of nursing,” said HSA President Val Avery.

BC’s nurses have voted in favour of the tentative 2019-2022 provincial agreement reached between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) and the Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC).

More than 21,000 ballots were cast with 54 per cent of nurses voting to ratify the three-year deal that was reached in November 2018. 

Registered psychiatric nurses who are members of HSA rejected the terms of the tentative agreement with a 73 per cent no vote.

To call into tonight's telephone town hall meeting from 7-8 pm PST on the 2019-2022 tentative agreement reached for nurses, call 1-877-229-8493, ID code 115000

The Nurses Bargaining Association reached a tentative agreement with HEABC on November 25, 2018. The term of the agreement is April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022.
 
HSA was represented at the bargaining table by staff negotiator Alyson Warner and member representative Nicole McIntosh, an RPN at St. Paul’s Hospital. They report that they had opportunities for input and relations were cordial until the final day of bargaining, when the NBA’s chief negotiator asked for the bargaining committee to agree to a tentative agreement without sharing the details of the tentative agreement.

A tentative three-year agreement has been reached between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).

The tentative agreement addresses key priorities and protects nurses’ ability to provide safe, quality patient care.

Several weeks since HSA’s representatives to the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) joined the NBA bargaining team in early contract talks with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) to negotiate a new collective agreement, progress continues to be made.

HSA’s representatives at the bargaining table, member Nicole McIntosh, a registered psychiatric nurse at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, and staff negotiator Alyson Warner report that they continue to focus on key priorities for HSA’s 1100 registered psychiatric nurses.

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2018

National Nursing Week was celebrated from May 7-13, marking the important contribution nurses make to our health care system. Registered psychiatric nurses work on interdisciplinary teams in a variety of health care settings, including psychiatric units in hospitals, community mental health centres, and on community outreach teams. 

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017

Recognition of diversity is now essential to the health of our society and the strength of organizations.

Today, leading institutions seek to understand the unique experience of their members in order to better represent and serve them.