Canadian nurses shocked, disturbed by loss in appeal by RN who spoke out about her grandfather’s care

Canadian nurses were shocked and disappointed by the April 11 decision of Justice Currie of the Saskatchewan Court of the Queen’s Bench to uphold the verdict of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association Discipline Committee in the case of RN Carolyn Strom.

Strom was fined $26,000 and found guilty of professional misconduct by SRNA, the regulatory body for nurses in the province, simply for commenting on Facebook about the quality of her grandfather’s end- of-life care.

Nurses across the country are concerned this decision will contribute to the silencing of nurses as individuals and health professionals, said Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

“Advocating for our loved ones and our communities is a basic right all Canadians should have, including Canada’s nurses,” Silas said. “Regulatory bodies such as the SRNA must not be empowered to prevent nurses from speaking up as individuals.”

Silas said the case sets a dangerous precedent that could prevent nurses from advocating on basic issues such as the lack of care for the homeless, insufficient funding and services for Indigenous children, and promoting much needed harm reduction programs.

The CFNU and affiliated unions like United Nurses of Alberta are also concerned this decision has disturbing implications for all Canadian workers by contributing to the erosion of our individual right to freedom of expression outside of our workplaces.

Canada’s nurses #StandWithStrom as she appeals this decision, and pledge to support the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses in this fight, all the way the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary.

The CFNU and UNA are committed to defending the rights of nurses and all Canadian workers.