January 27, 2026
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (NNPBC) extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and community of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse in Minneapolis, and to everyone impacted by similar acts of violence in the United States.
As the International Council of Nurses has stated, respect for human rights is central to nursing ethics and to the trust society places in health professionals. From what is publicly known, Alex appears to have been acting in accordance with these values in the moments before his death, guided by compassion and a commitment to helping someone in need. These are the same values that nurses bring to their work every day.
“As nurses, we will always speak up when one of our own is harmed,” said NNPBC CEO Angela Wignall. “Public reporting suggests Alex was acting in alignment with his nursing values, in support of individual and community wellbeing, and his death in this context underscores our responsibility to stand up for nurses when their safety, dignity or capacity to serve their communities is threatened,” Wignall said.
“While Alex was a nurse, this moment is not about one profession,” said NNPBC Board President Lori Campbell. “It is about the fundamental right of all people to live free from violence and to exist and participate safely in their communities.”
“Advocating for nurses and advocating for the wellbeing and human rights of all people are not separate, they are deeply connected,” Campbell added. “We join with others in making it clear that upholding human rights is essential to the safety, health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and the systems they depend on.”
NNPBC echoes the Canadian Nurses Association in a call for public actions that protect human dignity and life.
Angela Wignall, RN, BSN, BA, MA, PhD(c), Chief Executive Officer
Lori Campbell, RN, Board President