Nurses' Rights

Question 1

What three charters are nurses entitled to regardless of regulations and rules?*

Answer 1

1. Respect from colleagues and patients
2. Freedom from discrimination, harassment, and physical or sexual abuse
3. Function in a work environment where risk of harm is minimized

Question 2

What is right to conscientious objection?*

Answer 2

Decline to participate in certain actions on moral or religious grounds

Question 3

How can duty to provide care overpower a nurse’s own values?*

Answer 3

If the situation is emergent, nurses are required to help the client until alternative care is available, even if it is in conflict with own values

Question 4

What is the right to be free from discrimination in employment?*

Answer 4

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sexual and gender orientation, religion, age, physical or mental disability, nationality, or ethnic origin

Question 5

What 4 harmful risks are nurses exposed to?*

Answer 5

1. Exposure to harmful agents and infectious diseases
2. Increased stress
3. Disrespectful and non-supportive coworkers
4. Risk of physical harm from patients

Question 6

What is the right to a healthy work environment?*

Answer 6

Nurses have a right to a practice setting that maximizes the health and well-being of nurses, quality patient/client outcomes, organizational performance and societal outcomes

Question 7

Workers have the right to refuse to work in unsafe circumstances, unless these two factors*

Answer 7

1. Risk is inherent in the work
2. Refusal would endanger the life, health, or safety of others

Question 8

What factors can lead to a healthy workplace?*

Answer 8

Ensure appropriate staffing ratios, promote effective recruitment and retention, reward efforts/achievement, minimize moral distress

Question 9

What often goes unrecognized or unacknowledged in workplaces?*

Answer 9

Workplace violence

Question 10

Define a union*

Answer 10

A provincially certified group of employees with a common employer or industry

Question 11

What are certification and decertification in regard to unions?*

Answer 11

Certification - a process that must be completed before the union can represent its members

Decertification - occurs when a union is dissolved or loses the right to negotiate on behalf of its members

Question 12

What is a collective agreement? How long must it be effective for?*

Answer 12

It is the contract that emerges from the collective bargaining process

Must be in writing and effective for at least one year

Question 13

Can a strike or lockout occur when a collective agreement is in place?*

Answer 13

No job action can take place

Question 14

What is the three step process of a grievance procedure?*

Answer 14

1. A written submission
2. A meeting with the grievance committee
3. Binding arbitration

Question 15

What is a grievance?*

Answer 15

A violation of one or more provisions in the collective agreement

Question 16

What is meant by obey now - grieve later?*

Answer 16

If you feel the expectations of the employer are inappropriate, try to have a conversation and if a compromise cannot be found, you must obey

Question 17

What are the exceptions of obey now - grieve later?*

Answer 17

The work is illegal, outside of your scope, endangers you or others, or there would not be adequate redress through the grievance procedure

Question 18

When is a nurse allowed to refuse work rather than conscientious objection?*

Answer 18

The nurse can only refuse work when it is physically unsafe and there is impending and/or immediate danger

Question 19

When would a nurse not follow physicians orders?*

Answer 19

They believe an order is in error, violates agency policy, or is harmful to patients