From Crisis to Solutions: Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Leigh Chapman on What It Will Take t...

In this episode of The HQ, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Leigh Chapman, Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer. With the ongoing challenges facing our healthcare workforce, as highlighted by the Snapshot of Canada’s Healthcare Workforce, a benchmarking survey of HealthCareCAN member institutions, this conversation could not be more timely or important.

The survey reveals that notwithstanding record investments in adding more resources, vacancies, turnover, sick. time, and overtime all remain very high. All of this makes it clear that we can’t recruit our way to more a resilient and sustainable health system – we need to look at the system itself, focus on retention, and what can be done to build a more resilient and compassionate system that serves all Canadians, including our health workforce.

As we navigate these complexities, Dr. Chapman offers in plain and clear language her expert insights on the state of our health system, the pressing need for transformation, and the critical steps required to retain and support our current workforce, including nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals.

Tune in to this insightful episode to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Canada’s healthcare workforce and learn from one of the leading voices in healthcare today.


Key Discussions:

Crisis or Opportunity?

Dr. Chapman shares her perspective on whether the healthcare workforce is in crisis or if we should be reframing the conversation toward solutions, and how this shift in framing can influence our approach to tackling the issues.

The Core Challenges:

We explore the root issues plaguing the healthcare workforce, including high vacancies, turnover, and internal churn within organizations. Dr. Chapman discusses the broader implications of these challenges and what needs to be done to address them.

The Call for Transformation:

While innovation and transformation are often cited as necessary for the future of healthcare, Dr. Chapman offers a balanced view of how these efforts impact the health workforce and what realistic steps can be taken to ensure they contribute to a sustainable system.

Expectations from All Sides:

Drawing from her extensive interactions with health organizations, frontline workers, government officials, and Canadians coast to coast, Dr. Chapman provides an overview of what each of these stakeholders expects from the healthcare system and how these expectations align with current realities.

Building a Resilient Health System:

What does resilience look like in healthcare, and what barriers are preventing us from achieving it? Dr. Chapman shares her thoughts on the key factors that would make Canada’s health system more resilient.

Leadership in Healthcare:

Leadership is often highlighted as a critical component of healthcare reform. Dr. Chapman weighs in on whether we have a leadership issue in the health system and the importance of leadership in driving meaningful change.

Talent Pipeline and Retention:

The conversation turns to the talent pipeline—how do we attract and retain healthcare professionals in an increasingly challenging environment?

Looking Forward:

As the episode concludes, Dr. Chapman shares what’s next for the Office of Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer, offering listeners a glimpse into the future initiatives aimed at supporting Canada’s health workforce.


About Our Guest:

Dr. Leigh Chapman is committed to advancing the nursing profession in Canada to ensure equitable access to quality care. As CNO for Canada, she provides strategic advice to Health Canada, plays a convening role on key nursing issues, and represents the Federal Government at public forums. Leigh is a registered nurse (RN) who received her PhD from the University of Toronto's Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. Over the past 20 years, she has gained a deep understanding of nursing by working in both frontline and clinical leadership capacities. In addition to her role as CNO for Canada, Leigh continues to work at a community-based consumption and treatment site in Toronto, where she provides harm reduction services and frontline care.


Helpful Links:


Dr. Leigh Chapman | LinkedIn:   / leigh-chapman-6420516  

Dr. Leigh Chapman | Twitter: https://x.com/LeighChappy

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