National Nursing Week shines spotlight on Manitoba nurses and the pressures many face on the frontlines
Posted May 12, 2026 5:43 pm.
Last Updated May 12, 2026 7:07 pm.
From hospitals to northern communities, National Nursing Week is recognizing the work nurses do across Manitoba, while healthcare leaders and frontline workers continue discussions around violence, staffing pressures, and burnout in the healthcare system.
“Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system,” said Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara.
National Nursing Week runs each year from May 11 to 17. The week is dedicated to recognizing the work nurses do every day in hospitals, clinics and communities across Manitoba.
“Well, I can tell you violence is front and center in every facility in this province,” said Darlene Jackson, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union.
While the Manitoba Nurses Union is also recognizing National Nursing Week, they say safety has become one of their biggest concerns.
“The violence that we see against nurses and healthcare workers is totally unacceptable, and it is a national issue, but I can tell you here in Manitoba we are taking real action so nurses are safer at work,” said Minister Asagwara.
Asagwara says Manitoba has added institutional safety officers, weapons detectors, and other measures aimed at improving safety inside healthcare facilities.
“You can not be everywhere all the time, and when you don’t have appropriate staff, bad things happen,” said Jackson.
Meanwhile, heavy workloads and staffing pressures top the list of concerns for frontline nurses, with the union continuing to push for minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.
“They miss breaks, they don’t get to have a meal and a glass of water, and often they are staying hours beyond their shift,” said Jackson.
Asagwara says, “Well, the nurses’ union is just wrong. They know that we’re investing in nurse-to-patient ratios, our government has brought forward legislation to make it law that nurse-to-patient ratios are going to be legislated. There is no other jurisdiction in Canada that has taken that step like our government has done.”
Kathleen Cook, Manitoba PC Health Critic, said, “We know there is no staffing plan, where the gaps are, how many we need to train, how many we are losing, and how many we need to retain, and without that, the government is operating in the dark.”
However, all three did agree on one thing, that celebrating the work nurses do every day goes well beyond just this one week.
