CNSA Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination Position
Throughout this pandemic, the CNSA has fiercely advocated for its members at a local and national level regarding concerns that nursing students were not being taken into account during pandemic planning, and that our education was being put at risk. We advocated within the provincial and national unions, associations and colleges; and had the incredible opportunity to speak to a Minister of Health of Canada about nursing students’ concerns.
Now, our focus is shifting towards COVID-19 vaccination advocacy. As nurses, it is important that we utilize evidence-based practice. Evidence has shown us that the COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective way to combat the COVID-19 virus and protect ourselves, our families, and our patients.
The CNSA is joining the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), the Canadian Medical Association, and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA-AIIC) in the call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination: https://nursesunions.ca/covid-19-vaccination-position-statement/
See this joint statement from CNA and CMA: https://cna-aiic.ca/en/news-room/news-releases/2021/cma-and-cna-call-for-mandatory-covid-19-vaccinations-for-health-care-workers?fbclid=IwAR1ETjTIaYzYkjQ2Aay9uxFZfXKm6fuMLz1XI-L6NIQNZaxiI6hVf4MWYJQ
Misinformation has contributed to vaccine hesitancy across Canada. Vaccine hesitancy is described as a delay in the acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite the availability of vaccine services. Nurses play a significant role in the COVID-19 immunization programs, as well as in educating patients, families, and communities with evidence-informed information. Therefore, it is imperative that nurses have access to up-to-date information about approved vaccines, recommendations for use, prioritization of populations, and safety considerations as well as adverse event reporting. Below are lists of evidence-based resources to support nurses: https://cna-aiic.ca/en/coronavirus-disease/covid-19-vaccinations?fbclid=IwAR1yn9N273WKntKRLty1_uyW5U4cQwCjn34JH1e6-IYvf5cj0VcKkA7UvWk
Finally, it is our duty to practice to the CNA Code of Ethics, please see below.
Under the CNA Code of Ethics (2017):
Part I: Nursing Values and Ethical Responsibilities
A. Providing Safe, Compassionate, Competent and Ethical Care
1. Nurses have a responsibility to conduct themselves according to the ethical responsibilities outlined in this document and in practice standards in what they do and how they interact with persons receiving care and other members of the health care team (p. )
9. During a natural or human-made disaster, including a communicable disease outbreak, nurses provide care using appropriate safety precautions in accordance with the legislation, regulations and guidelines provided by government, regulatory bodies, employers, unions, and professional associations (see Appendix B. (p. 9))
B. Promoting Health and Well-Being
Nurses work with persons who have health-care needs or are receiving care to enable them to attain their highest possible level of health and well-being
1. Nurses Provide care directed first and foremost toward health and well-being of persons receiving care, recognizing and using the values and principles of primary health care (p. 10)
G. Being Accountable
Nurses are accountable for their actions and answerable for their practice
Nurses, as members of a self-regulating profession, practice according to the values and responsibilities in the Code and in keeping with the professional standards, laws and regulations supporting ethical practice (p. 16)
Appendix B: Applying the Code in Selected Circumstances (p. 33)
Ethical Considerations for Nurses in a Natural or Human-Made Disaster, Communicable Disease Outbreak, or Pandemic (p. 38)
Nurses Provide Care to those in need, even when providing care puts their own health and life at risk.
Nurses also encounter personal risk when providing care for those with a known or unknown communicable or infectious disease. However, disasters and communicable disease outbreaks call for extraordinary effort from all health-care personnel, including nurses. The Code states:
During a natural or human-made disaster, including a communicable disease outbreak, nurses provide care using appropriate safety precautions in accordance with the legislation, regulations and guidelines provided by government, regulatory bodies, employers, unions, and professional associations. (A9)
A duty to provide care refers to a nurse’s professional obligation to provide persons receiving care with safe, competent, compassionate and ethical care (p. 39).
B. When in the midst of a disaster or disease outbreak, nurses:
refer to regulations and guidelines provided by the government, regulatory bodies, employers and professional associations;
provide safe, compassionate, competent, and ethical care;
help determine if, when and how nurses may have to decline or withdraw from care (p. 40)
Ethical Considerations in Relationships with Nursing Students (p. 41)
Nursing students are expected to meet the standards of care for their level of learning. They advise their faculty clinical instructor and their clinical unit nurse supervisors if they do not believe they are able to meet this expectation (p. 42)
Canadian Nurses Association (2017). 2017 edition code of ethics for registered nurses. https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/code-of-ethics-2017-edition-secure-interactive
A PDF version of this statement can be found here.
