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Nurse Practitioners in Ontario Sound Alarm Over Unsustainable Conditions
A rising number of nurse practitioners in Ontario are expressing their frustration and alarm at the deteriorating conditions within the province’s health-care system. Low pay, overwhelming workloads, and increased burnout are pushing many to their limits, prompting calls for immediate action to prevent a potential collapse of the system.
Aliya Hajee, a nurse practitioner and founder of NP Circle—a support network for nurse practitioners in Canada—described the current situation as more than mere frustration; she labeled it a crisis. “Nurse practitioners have been stepping in to fill these gaps the past several years, but we’re doing much more with less,” Hajee stated. “We’re managing increasing volumes of patient care without the support we really need to sustain that.”
A national survey by NP Circle revealed alarming statistics, indicating that only one in eight nurse practitioners in Ontario reported being “very satisfied” with their jobs. Furthermore, nearly 20% expressed feelings of dissatisfaction, with around 78% citing compensation as their primary concern.
Hajee emphasized that the purpose of forming NP Circle and conducting the survey was to create a supportive space for nurse practitioners who often feel isolated in their work environment. “The data directly reflects that this is truly concerning,” she added.
Claudia Mariano, a retired nurse practitioner with over 25 years in the field, noted that resentment among practitioners has grown commonplace. “Back when I started as a nurse practitioner, we advocated for more responsibilities, but we’re no longer celebrating those advancements,” she lamented. Mariano, who now serves as the director of membership at NP Circle, stated that the increases in accountability have not been matched by better pay or respect.
Moreover, more than half of the nurse practitioners surveyed are contemplating leaving the profession, with many voicing their struggles through written comments. Mariano recounted a resonant reply from one respondent who expressed, “I can’t do this anymore … I’m going to be leaving in the next year or two because I can’t do this.”
In addition to compensation issues, nearly one-third of Ontario nurse practitioners acknowledged that mental health challenges and burnout are significant obstacles in their careers. Alix Consorti, a primary-care nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience, described the survey findings as staggering and indicative of systemic issues rather than individual struggles.
The Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators has announced plans to implement a new pan-Canadian framework in 2026, which is expected to facilitate registration for nurse practitioners across the country. While this reform aims to enhance mobility and eliminate existing barriers, it has raised concerns regarding employment retention within Ontario.
“Nurse practitioners are leaving for provinces with better pay, and this situation will only worsen with the new legislation,” Consorti warned, calling attention to what she sees as a serious human resource crisis in the health sector.
Patients are ultimately bearing the consequences of this turmoil, according to Erin Mignault, a nurse practitioner with more than 40 years of experience. “It’s an exhausting cycle. Nurses are trying to fill voids left by family doctor shortages, but this results in burnout and pushes them away from the field,” she noted.
The ongoing departure of family doctors exacerbates the issue, as more patients find themselves without a primary care provider. Current estimates indicate that around 2.2 million residents in Ontario lack access to regular primary care, forcing many to rely on overcrowded emergency rooms or walk-in clinics for their basic health needs.
Retention of Nurse Practitioners: A Key Concern
In response to these issues, a spokesperson for Ontario’s health minister indicated that the province is committed to bolstering its nurse practitioner workforce. “We have added 150 new nurse practitioner education seats, removed unnecessary administrative tasks saving providers 95,000 hours, and expanded nurse practitioners’ scope of practice,” they reported, reaffirming the government’s pledge to support nurse practitioners.
Nevertheless, advocates argue that merely increasing education capacity will not solve underlying concerns if experienced practitioners are unwilling to remain in their roles. Without substantial reforms and improved compensation, experts fear that Ontario may be on the brink of facing an entirely new health-care crisis.
“We’re not just supporting the system,” Hajee concluded. “We’re helping hold it together.”
Source
globalnews.ca