Comments on: Current Lawsuits of BCNU, by Jessie Mantle, Retired RN

By: Mary-Ann Speirs

Mary-Ann Speirs — Wed, 13 May 2015 06:42:45 +0000

Thank you Jessie,

Great insight and I did enjoy reading your views.

I often wonder why nursing has to have so many areas of conflict.
I agree with you; the way the public will view and judge nursing could be based on what public sees.
Thank you again.. 🙂

By: R. Alan Wood, RN, BScN, MScN

R. Alan Wood, RN, BScN, MScN — Sun, 10 May 2015 21:25:55 +0000

Thank you Jessie. Your historical perspectives and remarks resonate for me in a profound way

This radical position of the BCNU in its quest to be all things to all nurses is simply unrealistic and the pursuit of it puts the legitimacy, credibility and trust of the entire profession at great risk.

Nursing as a discipline has enjoyed the benefit of exceptional public esteem and trust, bestowed upon us by the public we serve, for more than a century. Yet, we risk eroding that trust by portraying the profession as a group of adversarial factions that have lost touch with our traditions of collaboration and teamwork in the higher collective calling of public service.

As you have succinctly put it, “... any group that attacks its own peers cannot be trusted to protect the public”

By: Susan a Concerned RN

Susan a Concerned RN — Tue, 05 May 2015 14:23:32 +0000

There is a petition now. Please see link:

https://www.change.org/p/bcnu-we-call-for-the-retraction-of-the-bcnu-lawsuit-against-crnbc-and-arnbc

By: Julia Baratto

Julia Baratto — Tue, 05 May 2015 02:06:49 +0000

A very thoughtful reflection. If we want to be respected, we must act in a way that commands respect. A way where we nurture and foster each others growth and find ways for collaboration rather than litigation. As an experienced nursing organization, the BCNU has the opportunity to mentor ARNBC. I believe the BCNU once found themselves in a similar situation when the union role seperated from RNABC (also receiving $2.7 million in grant money in 1981 see http://blog.crnbc.ca/?p=354 for more info). The BCNU's knowledge and experience would be much better utilised supporting this relatively new association rather then threatening its financial ability to exist. I feel like mentorship and collaboration would be in everyone's best interest. We can only make gains when we nurture each other.

By: Lori Hughes

Lori Hughes — Tue, 05 May 2015 01:06:57 +0000

Jessie, you have offered an experienced and thoughtful addition to the discussion on the current situation. We are living through a challenging time in nursing and you are spot-on with the view that in a divided house there are no winners for nurses and other interests are more than willing to step into place. From the details of this lawsuit, the move by BCNU to escalate to the supreme court is short sighted, and appears to be self-serving.

By: Marnie Kramer-Kile

Marnie Kramer-Kile — Mon, 04 May 2015 17:48:55 +0000

Thank you Jessie for your salient comments. You have articulated what many of us have been feeling. I have previously worked in Ontario and have been fortunate to experience the rewards of having a strong professional association such as the RNAO. It is my hope that BC nurses recognize what the ARNBC can do for our professional advancement when it is not weakened by situations such as this. We require our association to advance best practice and to continue our growth as a profession.

It is my hope that BC nurses continue to speak out about this current issue.

Best,
Marnie

By: Brenda Canitz

Brenda Canitz — Mon, 04 May 2015 17:42:36 +0000

It is hard to understand what good the BCNU thinks these lawsuits will do. In a world with so much division I was hoping that we as nurses could lead the way in modelling collaboration and cooperation. We know from our first hand experience that these divisive strategies only hurt the profession and ultimately hurt our members and those we care for.

For those who main wish is to try limit the influence and participation of nurses in health care policy and decision making, it is the perfect situation. 'Divide and Conquer' . Nurses fighting amongst themselves while others move into speak for us.

I can only hope that wiser minds will prevail and we can move on to establish a union of like minded organizations that truly has our members in mind.

By: Nora Whyte

Nora Whyte — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:39:11 +0000

Thank you, Jessie Mantle, for writing this powerful letter and for your willingness to share it on the ARNBC Blog. In the midst of this troubling time for our profession in BC, your words of wisdom are so welcome. We need to pay attention to our history and to value the unique organizational contexts and mandates of the BCNU, CRNBC and ARNBC. I am proud to belong to the nursing community in this province and urge all of us to work together in a spirit of unity for the sake of the public, the health system and the future of the profession.

By: Lorelei Faulkner-Gibson

Lorelei Faulkner-Gibson — Mon, 04 May 2015 15:13:33 +0000

As president of the Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses and a long time BC Nurse, I am appalled at the information about BCNU towards ARNBC and CRNBC. When will it end? I was active with RNBAC starting in the late 1980's and there was constant conflict and it continues. As NURSES, in a community, we need to work to gether not constantly set to undermine the good work that is done by all three groups. Time to move on and look to the future. Thank you to Jessie Mantle for speaking up - where are the voices of reason.

By: Sally Thorne

Sally Thorne — Mon, 04 May 2015 01:40:49 +0000

Jessie you have been a nursing hero to so many of us here in BC, and we appreciate your wise words. Thank you for speaking your truth so eloquently and passionately.