Purpose of the PRW Process

The PRW process allows nurses to formally report unsafe workload or professional practice issues that may affect:

• patient safety

• quality of care

• nurses’ ability to meet professional standards

By using the PRW process, nurses fulfill their accountability obligations to the CNO while advocating for safe care.

Steps to Follow When a Workload Issue Occurs

Step 1: Address the issue immediately on the unit

When the workload problem happens:

• Discuss it with colleagues on your unit

• Try to develop strategies using available resources to meet patient care needs.

Step 2: Escalate if unresolved

If the issue cannot be resolved on the unit:
Seek help from leadership such as:

• Clinical Leader

• Manager

• Manager on-call

• COMs (Clinical Operations Managers)

• PCC (Patient Care Coordinator)

Step 3: Complete a Workload Report Form

If the issue still isn’t resolved:

1. Document all actions taken

2. Complete the Workload Report Form

3. Email the form to:

   • Your manager

   • Copy yourself

   • Ann Scott - local034@ona.org

   • Your Workload VP

     • Joan Alfonso-Piche (CVH site) - local034wkld-c@ona.org

     • Claudia Rodas (M-site) - local034wkld-m@ona.org

Step 4: Meeting with your manager

• Must happen the next day you both work or within 10 calendar days (whichever is sooner)

• Meeting can be by phone

• You may request an ONA representative to attend.

To arrange this, contact:

• Ann Scott - local034@ona.org

• Your Workload VP

Step 5: Manager’s written response

• The manager must respond within 10 calendar days of receiving the form.

• The response is copied to:

• • Ann Scott - local034@ona.org

  • Your Workload VP

Step 6: If the issue is still not resolved

• The Workload Report Form is forwarded to the Hospital Association Committee (HAC).

• This must occur within 20 calendar days after the manager’s response (or when the response should have occurred).

• The issue is discussed at the next HAC meeting.

✅ The PRW process ensures workload concerns are formally documented and addressed, starting at the unit level and escalating to HAC if needed.