RNAO is adding its voice to the chorus criticizing the federal government for a hasty decision to replace the long form census survey with a shorter, less comprehensive and voluntary form. The government announced it was eliminating the form, which is administered by Statistics Canada, at the end of June. Since then, dozens of groups, including those in health care have spoken out against the government’s action. On July 20, RNAO sent a letter to Prime Minister Harper and issued an action alert.

• Letter to PM
• Action Alert
• Media release

If you’re looking to recharge your workplace, join us at RNAO’s 5th Annual Creating Healthy Work Environments Summer Institute. This event is packed with information and practical tips on how to transform your work environment into a winning workplace that best serves the needs of patients. The week-long event takes place at the Hockley Valley Resort in Orangeville, ON from August 8-13.

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Are you passionate about speaking out for health and healthy communities? Have you ever considered putting your nursing knowledge and skills to work as an elected politician?

RNAO believes all levels of government benefit from having registered nurses involved in policy development, including political office.

This fall, RNAO’s policy department is offering candidate training.

For more info, contact Kayla Scott at kscott@rnao.org

2010 also marks the International Year of the Nurse (IYN).

The purpose of this celebration is to recognize the contribution of nurses around the world and to engage nurses in the promotion of world health.

The year also marks a formal honoring of the legacy of Florence Nightingale.

The founders of this initiative include Sigma Theta Tau, Nightingale Initiative for Global Health and the Florence Nightingale Museum.

RNAO is part of the International Advisory board for IYN.

Click here for more details.

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.

In other RNAO news

» In The Loop

» Position Statement on Client Centred Care