PrintEmail and phone your MLA about extending Presumptive Coverage for Nurses
With Alberta MLAs returning to the Legislature in Edmonton later this month, United Nurses of Alberta is encouraging its members to contact their elected representatives to tell them why it’s critical that presumptive coverage for psychological injuries be extended to Alberta nurses.
Through the nature of their work, nurses are routinely exposed to traumatic events in the workplace. Nurses should not be forced to wait for – or be denied – access to Workers’ Compensation benefits after experiencing traumatic events while on the job.
A change to the Workers’ Compensation Act would presume that a confirmed psychological or psychiatric injury happened to a nurse because of an incident at work. This coverage is already extended to other first responders such as police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dispatchers, and corrections officers.
The only obvious difference is that the professions that already have presumptive coverage are dominated by men, while in the nursing profession a majority of practitioners are women. This is discriminatory and unfair.
UNA believes that this coverage should be extended to all nurses who hold a practice permit or are registered with a college of a regulated profession under the Health Professions Act.
If the Workers’ Compensation Act is changed, nurses will have access to Workers’ Compensation programs and treatment initiatives that will assist them in their recovery and get them back in to the health care workforce faster.
Tell Alberta MLA's to include nurses in presumptive coverage for psychological injuries
Contact your MLA to explain why Alberta nurses should have presumptive coverage for psychological injuries. Visit www.assembly.ab.ca to find your MLA’s name, email address, phone number, and constituency office location.
Email your MLA
Send an email to your MLA and tell them why this issue is important to you as their constituent and for nurses across Alberta.
Sample Letter
Dear [MLA name]
Through the nature of our work, Alberta nurses are frequently exposed to traumatic events in the workplace. Right now, nurses in Alberta are excluded by the Workers’ Compensation Board from presumptive coverage for psychological injuries.
Presumptive coverage for psychological injuries is already automatically extended to other first responders such as police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dispatchers, and corrections officers.
The obvious difference is that the professions that have presumptive coverage are dominated by men, while in the nursing profession a majority of practitioners are women. This is discriminatory and unfair.
Nurses should not be forced to wait for – or be denied – access to Workers’ Compensation benefits after experiencing traumatic events while on the job.
I encourage you to propose an amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act that would extend coverage to all nurses who hold a practice permit or are registered with a college of a regulated profession under the Health Professions Act.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Phone your MLA
Phone your MLA’s constituency office and let them know why this issue is important to you as their constituent and for nurses across Alberta.
Before calling, create a list of the most important points you want them to hear. Here are a few suggested points:
- Nurses are currently excluded by the Workers’ Compensation Board from presumptive coverage for psychological injuries. Through the nature of their work on the frontlines of the health care system, nurses are routinely exposed to traumatic events in the workplace.
- Presumptive coverage for psychological injuries is already extended to other first responders such as police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dispatchers, and corrections officers.
- An amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act could extend coverage to all nurses who hold a practice permit or are registered with a college of a regulated profession under the Health Professions Act.
Thank the MLA or MLA’s constituency assistant for their time. Be persistent, be patient, and let them know you will be calling back again to follow up.
Meet with your MLA
Contact your MLA’s constituency office and request an in-person meeting to discuss why this issue is important to you as their constituent and for nurses across Alberta.
Once you have arranged a meeting with your MLA, create a list of the most important points you would like to discuss.
- Nurses are currently excluded by the Workers’ Compensation Board from presumptive coverage for psychological injuries. Through the nature of their work on the frontlines of the health care system, nurses are routinely exposed to traumatic events in the workplace.
- Presumptive coverage for psychological injuries is already extended to other first responders such as police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dispatchers, and corrections officers.
- An amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act could extend coverage to all nurses who hold a practice permit or are registered with a college of a regulated profession under the Health Professions Act.
Be respectful, be honest and leave time for questions. The goal is to influence and help shape decision making. The MLA or their staff will probably have questions, so get to the point and then have a discussion.
Thank the MLA for their time. Be persistent, be patient, and always request a follow up meeting.
