Many Ontario RNs and NPs will leave the profession, retire early or switch to part-time work due to the workload and emotional toll of COVID-19, RNAO found in its Work and Wellbeing Survey results. About 13 per cent of early-career RNs say they will be leaving the profession compared to the usual attrition of three per cent. The number of RNs and NPs who are at the retiring age who are planning to retire is higher than usual. RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun says it is not just understaffing but is now a nursing crisis. Some hospitals in Ontario are offering bonuses for out-of-province or retired nurses to become critical care nurses, but Grinspun says that won’t work long term. “That’s a band-aid approach. What we need is the root causes to be dealt with. Bill 124 (legislation that limits wage increases) needs to go, mental health services for nurses need to be increased and workload needs to be decreased. We need to significantly retain and recruit more nurses.” (CTV News, July 23)