From May 12 to 18, we mark National Nursing Week by recognizing the essential role nurses play in delivering and defending public health care across Canada.

This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Nurses to Transform Health’, is a reminder of the deep impact nurses make every single day.

Unifor represents thousands of nurses—Registered Practical Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses—working in hospitals, long-term care homes, community health centres, and clinics.

These workers are often the first point of contact in health care, providing critical support, advocacy, and care to patients and their families.

Nurses show leadership every day—on the front lines, in crisis situations, and through their relentless advocacy for better care and stronger public health systems. Their work has been key in navigating public health emergencies and pushing for meaningful improvements in patient care.

But the strength of our nursing workforce is under attack—stretched thin by contracting out, chronic understaffing, burnout, and disrespect from governments that refuse to invest in public care.

Nurses are too often overlooked or shut out of decisions that directly affect their work, despite being the backbone of the health care system.

Unifor continues to advocate for safe staffing levels, fair compensation, and supportive work environments to ensure that nurses can continue to thrive and deliver exceptional care.

We’ve long called on health care institutions and policymakers to not just listen to nurses—but to follow their lead.

This week, we extend our deepest gratitude to all nurses for their unwavering commitment to health and healing. Your work not only changes lives—it holds the system together.

Let us recognize and celebrate the power of nurses—not just this week, but every day.