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These papers have been published by various contributors, and through the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. Research was conducted by both the CFNU and NSNU, featuring members like you.
Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union
The NSNU conducts research and produces reports on issues that affect nurses in all areas of health care. Check out our recent publications. For more information about NSNU research, contact NSNU Researcher/Government Relations, justin.hiltz [at] nsnu.ca (justin[dot]hiltz[at]nsnu[dot]ca).
Staffing Standards for Nova Scotia’s Nursing Homes
Publication Date: June 2020
Nursing Potential: Optimizing Nursing and Primary Health Care in Nova Scotia
Publication Date: May 2019
Broken Homes – Nurses speak out on the state of long-term care in
Nova Scotia and chart a course for a sustainable future
Publication Date: First Edition, December 2015
Other Reports & Documents
10 Things Everyone Should Know About Cannabis
Presentation Date: April 25, 2018
Presented by Brian G. Johnston QC, partner with Stewart McKelvey
Click here to download the presentation PDF
Workplace Violence Prevention - Moving from Complacency to Courage:
An Occupational Health and Safety Forum
Presentation Date: April 28, 2016
Presented by Erna Bujna, Ontario Nurses’ Association
Click here to download the presentation PDF
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Today's Nurse
Today’s Nurse: What contemporary Canadian nurses need to stay in the workforce for the longevity of their career outlines the importance of protecting, engaging and respecting the current and future nursing workforce to improve retention and make nursing in Canada sustainable for the future. The report was authored by Dr. Kim McMillan, RN, PhD, CHPCN(C), an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Ottawa.
Publication Date: August 2025
Beyond Equity: Taking Action to Address Indigenous-Specific Racism in Nursing
Beyond Equity: Taking Action to Address Indigenous-Specific Racism in Nursing is an educational resource to help advance the long overdue work on truth and reconciliation within the nursing and broader health care community in Canada. This discussion paper was authored by Dr. Liquaa Wazni and Dr. Lisa Bourque Bearskin, with important contributions from the Indigenous Health Research Nursing Chairs.
Themes in the report include:
• Reconciling Indigenous health and transforming health care
• Confronting the colonial health legacy
• Structural and systemic health transformation efforts
• Actionable and applicable strategies
Publication Date: May 2025
Bolstering Pathways to Practice: Empowering Internationally Educated Nurses in Canada
Bolstering Pathways to Practice: Empowering Internationally Educated Nurses in Canada outlines key recommendations to break down barriers for IENs living in Canada to practice nursing and excel within the profession. The report includes detailed recommendations, including a standardised route to licensure for IENs across Canada, wrap-around supports for IENs and effective workplace integration for IENs.
Publication Date: February 2025
National Nursing Student Survey
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association collaborated on the country’s first national nursing student survey, aimed to better understand the challenges nursing students face and how we can work to address them. This survey delves into key issues in nursing education, such as financial stress, mental well-being, nursing program experiences and expectations, and career readiness.
Publication Date: January 2025
Nurse-Patient Ratios Summit
The CFNU led the charge and hosted the inaugural national summit on NPRs November 27-28, 2024, to determine actionable next steps for guiding the development of safe mandated minimum NPR policies. These reports draw together existing knowledge around nurse-patient ratios, highlight lessons learned and share recommendations that came from this historic summit.
Publication Date: November 2024
Opening the Black Box: Unpacking the use of nursing agencies in Canada
This mixed-methods study sheds light on the growing use of for-profit nursing agencies across the country.
The CFNU worked with Queen’s University to conduct the study, led by Dr. Joan Almost. It examined the current landscape on the use of agencies across Canada and provided an understanding of the impact agencies have on health human resources planning, privatization of the public health care system, and retention and recruitment of the nursing workforce.
Publication Date: September 2024
Safe Hours Save Lives
Safe Hours Saves Lives highlights the rise in burnout among Canadian nurses due to excessive work hours, emphasizing the need for legislative reforms. It calls for safe work hour regulations, fatigue management, and supportive environments to enhance nurse well-being and patient safety, urging immediate action to address the concerning trends.
Publication Date: December 2023
CFNU Member Survey Summary Report
The CFNU published the results of a Canada-wide survey of 4,820 nurses conducted by Viewpoints Research from January 16 to February 12, 2023.
Publication Date: March 2023
Canada Beyond COVID: 12 Ways we can build a healthier and more equitable Canada
Publication Date: June 9, 2022
A Perfect Storm: COVID-19 & Canada’s health care workforce crisis
Publication Date: December 2020
Outlook on Nursing: A snapshot from Canadian nurses on work environments pre-COVID-19
Publication Date: December 2020
A Time of Fear: How Canada Failed Health Workers and Mismanaged COVID-19
Publication Date: October 2020
Mental Disorder Symptoms Among Nurses in Canada
Publication Date: June 2020
The Big Money Club: Revealing the Players and Their Campaign to Stop Pharmacare
Publication Date: March 13, 2019
Fulfilling Nurse Practitioners’ Untapped Potential in Canada’s Health Care System
Publication Date: June 29, 2018
Body Count: The human cost of financial barriers to prescription medications
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Nurse Staffing: More For Less
Publication Date: October 19, 2017
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Read More CFNU reports at nursesunions.ca/research
