'This means nurses now have the same coverage already extended to other first responders such as police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dispatchers, and correctional officers'
Nurses in Alberta now have presumptive coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic mental health injuries, following a new provincial cabinet order.
The new policy extends coverage to registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, graduate nurses, and undergraduate nurses, ensuring faster access to Workers’ Compensation benefits after workplace trauma, according to the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA).
Under the new rules, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) will presume that a nurse’s PTSD diagnosis is work-related unless there is evidence to the contrary. “Extending this coverage to nurses means the Workers’ Compensation Board will presume that a nurse’s PTSD diagnosis was caused by the nurse’s work, unless the contrary is proved,” said UNA Labour Relations Director David Harrigan, who served as chief negotiator in the last round of bargaining.
Harrigan also noted that psychological injuries other than PTSD will be presumed work-related if a traumatic workplace event is established, unless a non-work cause is proven.
The amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act Regulation was enacted through an Order-in-Council brought to cabinet by Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow on July 23, 2025.
UNA welcomed the government’s decision.
“The government promised to make this change in bargaining, and we were very pleased to learn that they had fulfilled their commitment with this cabinet order,” Harrigan said.
“This means nurses now have the same coverage already extended to other first responders such as police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dispatchers, and correctional officers.”
In 2023, Heather Murray, an emergency and trauma nurse, and the UNA Local 68 president, advocated for nurses to have access to presumptive coverage for psychological injuries. She collected more than 1,000 signatures from nurses and supporters in just a matter of weeks.
Other provincial governments have also worked to provide presumptive psychological injury coverage for other workers.
