Nurses rely on a safe work environment. Unfortunately, that is not always the case as statistics show that 50 per cent of health-care workers will be assaulted during their professional career. RNAO has been advocating for safer workplace environments. On Nov. 24, Irmajean Bajnok represented RNAO at Queen’s Park. She appeared before a legislative committee examining Bill 168, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace).

For more information, see the following:

• RNAO's Written Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy
• Irmajean Bajnok's Speaking Notes
• Preventing and Managing Violence in Workplace BPG

RNAO was among the recipients of a prestigious nursing award given at the Sigma Theta Tau International biennial conference in Indianapolis on Nov 2. The award recognizes the significance and value of collaborative efforts between nursing practice and academia.

Barb Davies, RNAO member and a professor with the University of Ottawa’s Nursing Best Practice Research Unit said being “acknowledged for this work is truly is inspiring”.

Watch a YouTube video of the award presentation

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Get the H1N1 immunization to protect you and your patients. Nurses have a duty of care to the patients they see so practising prevention is the best way to reduce risk – both to you and those in your care. RNAO encourage all nurses to get flu shots.

Remember you can also reduce your risk by washing your hands regularly and using proper cough etiquette. While the flu is never to be taken lightly, people should not live in fear of it either.  We as nurses need to encourage our friends, family and co-workers to stay home from work or school if they are sick.

The bottom line is that by encouraging people to become immunized against H1N1 and the seasonal flu, we will reduce the spread of the virus. Do you have questions about H1N1? More Flu info.

RNAO is speaking out against actions being taken in some hospitals across Ontario. The association is gravely concerned about proposed nursing staffing models that – disguised under other names – take us back to “team nursing.”

In our correspondence and meetings with health-care organizations, we have been sharing the importance of nursing staffing models that secure continuity of care and continuity of caregiver, using RNs for the total nursing care of unstable patients with unpredictable outcomes, and RPNs for the total nursing care of stable patients with predictable outcomes.

Read RNAO’s materials on this issue including letters to the hospitals. RNAO is also looking for your stories. Is your workplace being affected by staffing model changes? Tell us about your experience.