Presumptive Legislation Round table - The Fight for Presumptive Legislation with Guests Katrina Stephenson and Heather Murray

In this episode, hosts Rachel Steel and Gerri Logan explore the urgent need for presumptive legislation to protect nurses from psychological injuries such as PTSD and burnout. They are joined by Heather Murray and Katrina Stephenson, two passionate advocates fighting for policy changes recognizing mental health struggles as a workplace hazard for nurses.

The discussion begins with a breakdown of presumptive legislation, explaining how it would shift the burden of proof away from nurses, automatically recognizing PTSD and psychological distress as work-related conditions—similar to protections already granted to first responders. The guests share personal stories that highlight the emotional and mental toll of nursing, emphasizing how current systems fail to provide adequate support. 

The episode underscores the broader implications of inaction, warning that without proper mental health support, nurses will continue to leave the profession at alarming rates, worsening the ongoing healthcare crisis. The hosts and guests emphasize collective action, urging nurses to unite in advocating for policy changes that recognize and address these mental health challenges.

**Trigger warning** The discussion includes mention of suicide as it relates to job-related mental health injuries.  

About the Guests:

Heather Murray

Heather Murray is a registered nurse with over 10 years of experience in emergency and critical care. A longtime advocate for nurse mental health, she has worked closely with professional associations and policymakers to push for presumptive PTSD legislation. Having personally experienced the emotional toll of frontline nursing, Heather is committed to ensuring that future generations of nurses receive better protections and access to mental health resources.

Katrina Stephenson

Katrina Stephenson is a nurse educator and mental health specialist who has spent the last decade supporting nurses dealing with trauma and burnout. Katrina is a CAF Mental Health & Wellness Nurse & Nurse Leader with Nurse 2 Nurse Peer Support. Katrina believes we need to approach each other with compassion and understanding around mental health and substance use challenges in such a way to reduce stigma and discrimination. She has been instrumental in bringing awareness to psychological injuries in nursing, speaking at conferences and lobbying for legislative reforms. 

Partially through recording this episode, we were surprised by the news that the United Nurses of Alberta reached a Tentative Agreement on a Collective Agreement. UNA received a letter signed by Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones stating a proposal will be taken to cabinet no later than June 30, 2025, to extend presumptive coverage by the Workers’ Compensation Board to RNs and RPNs for psychological injuries related to post-traumatic stress disorder and other traumatic mental health injuries. 

Listen for our reactions! We extend our sincerest gratitude to the United Nurses and the negotiation committee. 

Please note, the information, opinions, and recommendations expressed by guests and hosts in this Podcast are their own those don’t necessarily reflect the views of Local 196 or United Nurses of Alberta.

If you have enjoyed the content of this podcast or have any suggestions for improvement, please reach out to the local 196 executive at local196exec@una.ca and/or leave a comment.

We can also be reached at https://local196una.ca/