News
Season’s Greetings: Thank you for the work you do
The holiday season will look and feel a lot different this year than ones we have celebrated in the past.
As 2020 – the Year of the Nurse – winds down, we want to thank each and every one of you for making us and Canadians proud.
Membership
Now is the time to renew/join – Tell colleagues to act now and get all the benefits!
This year, RNAO reached a new milestone in its membership history. Thanks to you, 46,000 RNs, NPs and nursing students are RNAO members. We appreciate your support and commitment.
New RN grads join for free
Do you know a nurse who recently graduated or an undergraduate nursing student who is preparing to graduate?
RNAO membership is the perfect way to launch their nursing career. And, thanks to the generosity of HUB International, RNAO’s home and auto insurance partner, your membership is free.
PLP: RNAO has your back - We COVER COVID-19 and communicable diseases
A major change in malpractice insurance is happening: insurance companies are explicitly excluding communicable diseases and COVID-19 in their insurance coverage for health-care organizations and long-term care homes. At RNAO we have no exclusions – as required by the College of Nurses of Ontario.
RNCareers.ca is the official career site of RNAO
Come check out the same trusted online leader in nursing careers.
RNCareers.ca specializes in all levels of nursing and health care, including executive, administrative and management positions. Check out the RN, NP and RPN positions in clinical and non-clinical roles on the website.
Inspire membership democracy: Submit your resolution by Feb. 22, 2021 at 5 p.m. ET
To add your voice to nursing, health and health-care issues, RNAO is encouraging individuals, members, chapters, regions without chapters, and interest groups to submit resolutions for review and discussion at RNAO’s next Annual General Meeting.
Run for a BOD position: Deadline Feb. 22, 2021 at 5 p.m. ET
Are you a nurse leader looking to make a difference? Submit your nomination and help guide the future of the association.
Do you know an RNAO member who deserves to be recognized?
RNAO’s Recognition Awards are now open and accepting entries.
Celebrate the best in nursing and health care by nominating a colleague or your organization.
Nursing Now Ontario Awards: Celebrating the great work of nurses
The Nursing Now Ontario Awards is marking its second year. It celebrates the great work of nurses and builds on the goals of the Nursing Now campaign, a global initiative aimed at improving health around the world through nursing.
Read the latest issue of RNJ online
The latest issue of RNJ.RNAO.ca is out. Have you read it? If not, be sure to read about the work public health nurses are doing to keep students and staff in schools safe during COVID-19. We also have a profile of Robin Morash, an RN who gave up retirement to help out during the pandemic and the story of an RN who is working the frontlines and says every day reminds her why she chose nursing. Also, check out the latest columns from RNAO’s president and CEO.
Staying connected through social media and technology
COVID-19 has altered the way we interact with one another and organizations on a daily basis. We now look to video conferences, emails and social media to communicate with one another. The public looks to the nursing profession as a trustworthy and honorable communicator. That’s why it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest social media guidelines and etiquette.
Policy
RNAO says Ontario lockdown measures fail Ontarians and allows virus to run rampant
On a day Ontario recorded another 2,123 new cases of the COVID-19 virus, the Ontario government announced new lockdown measures that will not take effect until Dec. 26 and in the words of RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun will do little to rein in a virus that continues to run rampant and that endangers the lives of Ontarians and its health system.
RNAO thanks Ontario government for its long-term care plan but says lack of urgency and legislated action won’t make much of an immediate difference for residents
RNAO welcomed the release of the government’s long-term care (LTC) staffing plan on Dec. 18. Titled A Better Place to Live, A Better Place to Work, the plan lived up to a promise to ensure a daily average of four hours of direct care for each LTC resident, however, it fell short for failing to lay out immediate and specific legislated actions that would improve the level and quality of care right away. Read more
First Ministers’ meeting focuses on COVID-19 and health care
Funding for millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine was the main topic of discussion during a First Ministers’ meeting on Dec. 10, 2020.
Dedicated funding for infection prevention and control in long-term care homes needed
As the number of long-term care homes fighting outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus increases, RNAO is calling on the government to mandate and provide the necessary funding and nursing expertise to ensure homes are able to contain and prevent further infections.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
On Dec. 6, Canadians marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and remembered the anniversary of the gender-based murders in 1989 of 14 young women at L'École Polytechnique de Montréal.
Queen's Park on the Road 2020
RNAO members continue to meet with their elected representatives as part of Queen's Park on the Road (QPOR). This signature political action event provides an opportunity for RNAO members to discuss priority issues with MPPs from all political parties and advocate for healthy public policy. The meetings are taking place virtually due to COVID-19.
Queen’s Park Day is open to all members: Circle Feb. 25 in your calendar
Members of RNAO’s assembly have long appreciated the opportunity to take part in the association’s Queen's Park Day. In February, all members will have a chance to join as well since the Feb. 25 event will be taking place virtually. The event, which will take place from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature remarks by Premier Ford, Minister of Health Christine Elliott, opposition and NDP leader Andrea Horwath, Liberal Party leader Steven Del Duca, and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner.
Media Awards: Help RNAO honour outstanding journalists
COVID-19 dominated the news headlines this year and journalists worked exceptionally hard reporting on the thousands of people who died from the virus, on the nurses and other health providers doing their best to take care of those who got sick and on key policy issues ranging from a shortage of personal protective equipment and the importance of testing and contact tracing to the failure by successive governments to improve staffing and funding in long-term care homes. The news stories gave nurses and other health-care professionals an opportunity to speak out.
Best Practice Guidelines
Join RNAO’s Best Practice Spotlight Organization Ontario Health Team program
Is your Ontario Health Team (OHT) interested in joining a program committed to quality care and improving patient outcomes?
RNAO is now accepting letters of intent from OHTs interested in joining RNAO’s Best Practice Spotlight Organization Ontario Health Team (BPSO OHT) program.
Leading Change Toolkit: Join as a user tester
RNAO and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) are working with an international panel of experts to create the Leading Change Toolkit. This toolkit is replacing previous versions of the RNAO Toolkit: Implementation of Best Practice Guidelines as a dynamic online resource for change teams across Ontario, Canada, and around the world. The Leading Change Toolkit includes two frameworks for implementing and sustaining best practices: the Knowledge-to-Action Framework and the Social Movement Action Framework.
Fellowships up for grabs
Looking for a new and exciting learning experience?
RNAO is now accepting applications for the Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship (ACPF) program. The fellowship provides registered nurses (RN) and nurse practitioners (NP) the opportunity to have a focused, self-directed learning experience to develop knowledge and skills, with support from a mentor(s), the organization where the RN/NP is employed and RNAO.
Events
Let’s Talk about Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Nursing
Jan. 18, 2021
Webinar
Engage in meaningful conversations about anti-Black racism and discrimination within the nursing profession.
Best Practice Forum: Successes, Lessons Learned and Next Steps
Jan. 25, 2021
Webinar
Understand how the public health branch at the Regional Municipality of York (York Region Public Health) implemented a Best Practice Forum and raised the visibility of RNAO’s best practice guidelines
Did you miss this year’s NP Symposium? Check out the photos and presentation
Those who didn’t have a chance to attend this year’s seventh-annual NP Knowledge Exchange Virtual Symposium have no need to fret. A Facebook gallery with highlights is now available online.
Continuing the conversation: Mobilizing collective action for long-term care reform in Canada
Following a groundbreaking cross country meeting on Nov. 9, RNAO continued the conversation on Dec. 14 to talk more about how we can mobilize collection action for long-term care reform in Canada.
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