Relying on the experience of frontline nurses, the CFNU works with experts, academics and other health care stakeholders to produce evidence-based research and resources on current health care issues. CFNU’s research has focused on the need for a national pharmacare plan, the importance of safe staffing, health care financing, safe seniors’ care, intergenerational issues in the workplace and occupational health and safety issues.
The CFNU transforms research into policy and practice by advocating for evidence-based changes at the federal level and provincial level at the Council of the Federation.
CFNU’s research products include groundbreaking research reports, backgrounders, fact sheets and position statements.
Bolstering Pathways to Practice: Empowering Internationally Educated Nurses in Canada Bolstering Pathways to Practice: Empowering Internationally Educated Nurses in Canada outlines key recommendations to break down barriers for IENs living in Canada to practice nursing and excel within the profession. Despite the sacrifices IENs make to relocate their lives and families to Canada, only 42% […]
Read MoreNational nursing student survey summary report The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association collaborated on the country’s first national nursing student survey, aimed to better understand the challenges nursing students face and how we can work to address them. This survey delves into key issues in nursing education, such as […]
Read MoreEmpowering nurses, enhancing care: Lessons on safe staffing and nurse‑patient ratios from Ireland and the United Kingdom Current evidence report Nurses have long claimed that understaffing is one of the primary reasons they would consider leaving the profession. As recently as 2024, the CFNU reported that this was a primary reason 40% of members were […]
Read MoreNurse-Patient Ratios Current evidence reports The nurse-patient ratios evidence reports explore Canadian and global approaches to nurse staffing and consolidate research on the impacts of nurse staffing on patient, nurse and systemic outcomes. They present the current available academic research, legislation and policy efforts to inform future work in this area. Nurse staffing has been […]
Read MoreHow do nurses’ collective agreements compare across the country? The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions compiles this annual review of key nursing contract provisions across Canada, including nurses’ salaries and other negotiated benefits by province. Salary is often taken as the sole measure of the worth of an agreement. However, this can be greatly misleading, […]
Read MoreOpening the black box: Unpacking the use of nursing agencies in Canada Opening the black box: Unpacking the use of nursing agencies in Canada sheds light on the growing use of for-profit nursing agencies across the country. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions worked with Queen’s University to conduct the mixed methods study, led by […]
Read MoreSafe Hours Save Lives! Study on safe working hours for nurses Safe Hours Saves Lives delivers a critical examination of escalating burnout among Canadian nurses due to excessive work hours. This report underscores the dramatic increase in overtime and its impact on nurse well-being and patient safety. It draws upon data and expert insights to […]
Read MoreThe CFNU released a compelling video series in 2023 that showcases the experiences and advocacy efforts of nurses in Canada regarding workplace equity. This series highlights the challenges and triumphs of a group of nurses who are fervently pushing for equity in the health care system. Watch the full series here. Creating a more […]
Read More2023 CFNU Member Survey Report Learn what nurses are saying about their work life in our health care system, based on a survey of nearly 5,000 nurses from across the country. Download the report
Read MoreSustaining Nursing in Canada proposes a set of concrete actionable solutions to help meaningfully solve the health care staffing crisis. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions worked with the Canadian Health Workforce Network to present in this report the magnitude of the nursing crisis and the known solutions to address it. Authored by University of […]
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