Process for Professional Responsibility Concerns As nurses working in the community, members of Local 196 have the right and responsibility to advocate for conditions that allow for quality and safe patient/resident/client care. Issues might include inadequate staffing, equipment or facility concerns, or anything that effects your ability to meet your professional standards of care. The Collective Agreement sets out a specific process for dealing with Professional Responsibility Concerns (PRC) in Article 36: Professional Responsibility. As per the contract, Local 196 has an established Professional Responsibility Committee that meets with the employer monthly to present and attempt to resolve the issues. The Union committee representatives are elected at the Local Annual General Meeting. Current Committee Members are: Nicole Bownes, Local 196 2nd VP ( Chair), Email: nbownes@una.ab.ca Brenda Solberg, Health Link Alberta ( Alternate Chair), Email: bsolberg@una.ab.ca Wendy Mostert, South West Home Care, Email: wmostert@una.ab.ca Linne Bowler, South East Home Care, Email: lbowler@una.ab.ca To contact a committee member or for more information, call the Local 196 office at 780-430-4616, or fax 780-493-8579 If a concern or issue occurs regarding safe patient/resident/client care, a nurse should fill out a PRC form. This can be done individually or as a group. The committee members are available to help you as needed. Process for filling out and filing a PRC form: 1. Gather and document the facts and details regarding the specific situation, ensuring that no identifying information of clients or staff is included. 2. Discuss your concerns with your immediate supervisor/manager and explain that a PRC will be filed. A committee member is available to attend this meeting on your behalf, if necessary. The goal is to resolve the issue at this level. However, even if issues are resolved at the superviors/manager level, a PRC form should be submitted for tracking purposes and to document ongoing problems. 3. The PRC form is filed through your office rep, or forwarded directly to the committee by fax, mail, or contacting a committee member. 4. A committee member will contact the nurse/nurses for further details. 5. The PRC issues will be presented to the Employer/Union Committee. It will continue to be addressed at meetings until a resolution is reached. The nurse or group filing the PRC will be notified of the outcome and asked if the resolution is appropriate.