Nurses whistleblowing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Content analysis of the “Je dénonce” platform

Abstract

Whistleblowing about critical issues by care staff is an essential component of any well-functioning health care system. During a pandemic, rapid communication of critical information is essential to identify and solve problems. In times of crisis, however, this kind of communication is difficult. In the province of Quebec, Canada, testimonies from nurses, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and other health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that the province’s health care settings have met whistleblowers’ concerns with insufficient corrective measures and, in some cases, retaliation against whistleblowers themselves. This crisis led a union to create an online platform to collect testimonials from the public and quickly make them available to the public and the media. By presenting a content analysis of testimonials submitted by nurses and LPNs, this article aims, on one hand, to identify the issues raised and, on the other, to examine the role and usefulness of this kind of platform for nurses who engage in acts of whistleblowing.