THE STATE OF NURSING IN ONTARIO

THE RPN EXPERIENCE IN FOCUS
A 2026 REVIEW

Modest improvements emerge as systemic pressures persist across Ontario’s nursing workforce.

A majority (77%) of nurses say they have seen patient, resident, or client care negatively impacted due to staffing issues.

Almost all RPNs surveyed (98%) report that their work took a toll on their personal wellbeing, up from 89% last year.

More than half (57%) of RPNs say there is currently a shortage of nurses in their workplace.

76% of nurses say their daily experiences in the workplace have become significantly more stressful

43% of RPNs reported that they are considering or intend to leave the nursing profession entirely.

WeRPN’s Five-Step Action Plan for Government Policymakers and Healthcare Leaders

Establish a harmonized provincial framework to ensure consistency in salary and benefits for RPNs across all health sectors, including Hospitals, Long-Term Care, and Home Care, to support robust recruitment and retention.
Establish a provincial strategy to adopt maximum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and transparent workload reporting requirements across all healthcare settings to ensure patient safety and professional sustainability.
Require all healthcare employers to adopt a zero-tolerance framework that includes mandatory public reporting of violent incidents and protects nurses from professional reprisals when they speak out.
Provide permanent, provincial funding for specialized, barrier-free mental health and trauma supports tailored to the unique needs of the nursing workforce
Commit to the long-term, multi-year sustainability of the Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) and the Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) to ensure RPNs have uninterrupted access to career advancement and specialized clinical education.