When: Every second Monday of the month
RNAO's CEO Doris Grinspun will be hosting COVID-19 webinars for health providers.
Topics include:
- updates on COVID-19 and the health system: latest news and pressing issues
- guest speakers (as available)
- questions and answers
- calls to action
Health providers from Ontario, Canada, and anywhere in the world are welcome to join at no cost.
We are here with you in solidarity. Together, we will continue to tackle COVID-19 with the best tools at hand, including accurate information, calmness, determination and swift actions!
Archived webinars:
June 20, 2022, 2-4 p.m. ET
COVID-19 webinar: Reflections as we move into the summer
During our last webinar of the summer season, we will divide the session into two parts. First, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun will provide key updates and announcements from RNAO and share their relevance as we move into a COVID-19 endemic era. This will set the stage for our guest speakers, RNs Jennifer Waite and Debra Lefebvre, who will present their work on capturing nurses’ COVID-19 pandemic stories. Jennifer and Debra will share stories that show the power of nurses to embrace uncertainty and growth and to persevere with purpose and passion.
May 9, 2022, 2-4 p.m. ET
COVID-19 webinar: 2022 Nursing Week edition
During this month’s COVID-19 webinar, we will mark Nursing Week by taking a deep dive into RNAO initiatives that tackle failings and inequities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We will walk you through our In Focus topics that outline multi-pronged approaches to address health equity and support health system transformation.
April 11, 2022, 2- 4 p.m. ET
Caring for refugees at the Ukrainian-Polish border: The Canadian Medical Assistance Teams’ mission
This month we will host the executive director of Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT) and RNAO member and NP Valerie Rzepka.
In early March, RNAO partnered with CMAT to call for RNs and NPs to volunteer to provide care for refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine. Valerie will be back from the mission and will be sharing about the experience and the work that nurses and other health-care providers are doing with refugees at the Ukrainian-Polish borders.
RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun will update on recent developments and the association’s involvement in several policy areas.
March 14, 2022, 2- 4 p.m. ET
Topic: Ontario is opening up again: What is most important now?
During this month’s COVID-19 webinar, we did a “pulse check” with participants about the issues on their minds as the province opens up and public health measures are lifted. What is going well? What concerns do you have for your workplace, your families and communities?
We also took time during the webinar to update participants on RNAO initiatives that address failings and inequities exposed during the pandemic, for example, the nursing crisis, systemic neglect of seniors, burnout among nurses and systemic racism. We walked you through RNAO’s provincial election platform, which participants can use to advocate for a just recovery from COVID-19 and make informed decisions about how to vote in the upcoming provincial election.
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
Feb. 14, 2022, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: How internationally educated nurses can help solve the nursing crisis: A panel discussion and stories from IENs
Over 20,000 internationally educated nurses (IEN) are eager to be registered in Ontario to help fix the nursing crisis exacerbated by COVID-19.
Our panel discussed the following topics:
- the lived experiences of IENs who are facing an arduous process to meet registration requirements and practice as registered nurses in Ontario
- overview of the various roadblocks to registration in Ontario
- why temporary initiatives such as the Long-Term Care Staffing Pool Program are unhelpful and short-sighted
- actions RNAO is taking to expedite the path to registration in Ontario
To learn more, visit our IENaction page and follow @RNAO, #IENaction and #NursingCrisis on Twitter.
Jan.10, 2022, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: Omicron Q&A with RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun
As you are well aware, the Omicron variant is raging across the province and the Ontario health system is on the verge of collapse. RNAO is hearing your stories and fiercely advocating—together with our staff, board and members—to help ensure that you are protected and that nurses, who are the backbone of our health system, get the respect that they deserve.
On Monday Jan. 10 RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun updated attendees on the latest news and updates on the Omicron variant, and hosted in a question-and-answer session.
Monday, Dec.13 from 2-4 p.m. ET
Topic: Key issues of 2021 and collective action for 2022
Now that 2021 is coming to a close and we approach the two-year mark of the pandemic let’s summarize this challenging year, and our moving forward together.
RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun, nurses and other health-care colleagues discussed the big issues:
- Delta, Omicron and their impact in Ontario and elsewhere
- vaccine justice
- nursing health human resource crisis
- overall HR crisis
- sluggish government actions to protect the public
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
Nov. 8, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: How to stay civil, compassionate and evidence-based during heated COVID-19 interactions
Now that the province is opening up and people are beginning to interact more, many of us are engaged in charged conversations and interactions about mask use and vaccination status. These happen not only at work, but within our families, social circles and when we visit public places in our communities.
No matter the setting, tensions can run high and there is a risk of splintered relationships, alienation, verbal abuse and more. As nurses, our patients, families, friends and community members look to us for evidence-based information and support for how to navigate these complex and emotionally charged conflicts.
On Monday, Nov. 8 from 2 - 4 p.m. ET, we discussed the following questions:
- What is at stake in these interactions and why are they so fraught with emotion?
- What is the nurse's role in and outside of work?
- How do we stay civil and compassionate and avoid strife and alienation?
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
Oct. 4, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: Your most valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
We are now well into our 20th month of the global COVID-19 pandemic. During this webinar, we paused to reflect on the most valuable lessons learned and asked you to share your insights. RNAO CEO, Dr. Doris Grinspun, nurses and other health-care colleagues took stock of what the pandemic has meant for us individually and collectively.
Participants came to the webinar prepared to answer the following: What is the most valuable lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for you, for nursing, and for health?
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
Sept.13, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: COVID-19 amidst back to school and a federal election
School is back in session, vaccine mandates and passports are being rolled out, and the federal election is upon us. What does this mean for Ontario nurses, families, teachers, community members and those deciding how to vote on Sept. 20?
On Monday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. ET, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun shared updates, latest news and pressing issues related to COVID-19. Participants learned about how to use RNAO’s non-partisan federal election policy platform to inform your election decisions, and heard about current calls to action that support a Just Recovery for All.
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
July 12, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: The world after COVID-19
The pandemic has worsened existing global disparities. Wealthier nations are beginning to recover, while the poorest nations are still waiting to receive their first doses of the vaccine. Added to this is the projected drop in health human resources at home and abroad.
On Monday, July 12 at 2 p.m. ET, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun shared her worries about the future of health care and the world’s peoples, post pandemic. Will it be again the poorest of the poor who suffer the most? Will we start poaching nurses and other health providers from low resource countries? Who will pay the price and who will keep an eye on preventing further devastation?
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
June 14, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: Update on COVID-19: Directions from the province and policy implications
We are now in the 16th month of COVID-19. In this webinar, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun provided an update on current issues related to this stage in the pandemic, outlined recent directions from the province, discussed the policy implications from RNAO’s perspective and had a conversation with participants.
Issues discussed included:
- provincial decision not to reopen schools
- advancing the reopening of the province to June 11
- Bill 124
- what to expect post-pandemic in general, and specific to nursing
Presenter:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
May 10, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
We kicked off National Nursing Week by dedicating our COVID-19 webinar to your stories.
Nurses, other health providers and members of the public are welcome to join our webinar to pay tribute to the roles nurses have played during the pandemic. This webinar focused on good news. You can share examples, words or stories of the nurses’ leadership: Their knowledge, compassion, bravery, dedication, collaboration and creativity as they have given it their all for patients this past year. Together, we will create a virtual wall of appreciation where you can share stories, upload images, take photos and share GIFs. The wall can be shared within your networks and on social media. Let's take time to collectively honour nursing and reenergize ourselves and our colleagues. We are an awesome mosaic of human richness!
April 12, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: Wave three: Update, advocacy and what's next?
Ontario is now in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this webinar, Dr. Doris. Grinspun, RNAO's CEO, and colleagues provided an update on how the third wave is affecting nurses and Ontarians. Hear how RNAO, together with members and allies, are advocating for immediate actions to save lives, and long-term actions to right wrongs and establish justice for all. Learn about the next steps and how you can help shape the trajectory of this devastating virus and its variants.
March 8, 2021, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Topic: Nurse wellness survey results: RNAO's pulse on Ontario’s RNs, NPs and nursing students
RNAO’s work and wellbeing survey asked RNs, NPs and nursing students in Ontario how they’ve been impacted by COVID-19 and the best way RNAO can continue to support Ontario’s nursing community. The survey closed on Feb. 22, and the more than 2,100 responses have been analyzed.
The March 8 webinar explored how the pandemic has changed nurses’ work, their attitudes toward work and their future in nursing, as well as how the survey results will inform RNAO’s upcoming policy work and advocacy efforts.
Presenters:
- Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
- Matthew Kellway, Director of Nursing and Health Policy
Feb. 8, 2021
Topic: COVID-19 Vaccine: A game changer
The COVID-19 vaccine will change the course of this pandemic. As millions of people are getting immunized, how can we as health-care workers become champions for this vaccine, and feel empowered to communicate about it with our patients, colleagues, family and friends?
Speaker:
- Dr. Cora Constantinescu, pediatric infectious disease specialist
Jan. 11, 2021
Topic: COVID-19 vaccine distribution: Progress to date
Speakers:
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO
- Dr. Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner, member, Lead Clinical Guidance and Surveillance Work-Stream, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force
Dec. 14, 2020: Continuing the conversation: mobilizing collective action for long-term care reform in Canada
Moderated by Globe and Mail columnist André Picard, the author of Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic.
Panellists (in order of presentation):
- Nathan Stall, staff geriatrician at Sinai Health System, will update on COVID-19 outbreaks in LTC in Canada, with particular attention to Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Dr. Stall will also share emerging research regarding COVID-19 and its impact on residents and staff in LTC.
- Carole Estabrooks, nursing professor, University of Alberta, expert on knowledge translation in LTC, will challenge us to reject quick fixes and ask about our collective vision for LTC in Canada. Dr. Estabrooks brings a wealth of knowledge from the research program of TREC (Translating Research in Elder Care) and its impact during COVID-19 and beyond.
- Morgan Hoffarth, RNAO President and Director of Care at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, will discuss current challenges and opportunities faced by front line providers and managers in LTC homes. She brings real life experience from a leader who was inspired to join an LTC home during COVID-19.
- Wendy Francis, Family Councils Collaborative Alliance (FCCA), will share the vital role of family councils during COVID-19. The FCCA brings a collective voice to inform the challenges of families during the first and second waves of COVID-19, as well as learning for a post COVID-19 era.
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO, will inspire a call to action. Our feisty CEO and sophisticated analyst and strategist will remind us this is our “last kick at the can.” We should honour the lives already lost – due in part to government failure, ageism and discrimination – and the anguish of their families, by securing a brighter future for all who call LTC their home. Dr. Grinspun will offer thoughts for targeted action.
Nov. 9, 2020: Cross Country Meeting: Mobilizing Collective Action for Long-Term Care Reform in Canada
The webinar was moderated by The Globe and Mail columnist André Picard, the author of Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic.
COVID-19 has swept through long-term care homes, taking the lives of more than 5,000 residents in Canada with most deaths happening in Ontario and Quebec. Thousands of families and loved ones are devastated with their loss. Others, including residents and staff, are exhausted, distressed and fearful of what is to come on this second wave.
RNAO recognizes the need and opportunity to turn tragedy into action, to secure a brighter future for our seniors. This is where we can come together and inspire all jurisdictions to build on the federal government’s Speech from the Throne that includes a commitment to work with provinces and territories to establish national standards for LTC and to take additional action to support people stay in their homes longer.
Panellists:
- Nathan Stall, staff geriatrician at Sinai Health System;
- Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO;
- Shirlee Sharkey, President and CEO of SE Health;
- Miranda Ferrier, President and co-founder of the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association and the Canadian Support Workers Association;
- Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions; and
- Laura Tamblyn Watts, President and CEO of CanAge.
Oct 5, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 17)
Topic: The second wave: Are we ready, and what's next to ameliorate suffering and ensure A Just Recovery For All?
As daily COVID-19 case counts increase at alarming rates, join us as we discuss how Ontario can better prepare to face this unprecedented fight against this virus.
The Speech from the Throne addresses some policy imperatives RNAO has outlined in a letter and call to action sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, demanding that vulnerable people not be left behind as a result of COVID-19. A Just Recovery for All, a global movement endorsed by RNAO, shines a light on the actions needed to build a better and more inclusive society, and to seal the cracks of inequity exposed during the pandemic.
RNAO's slides for webinar above
Sept. 14: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 16)
Topic: Health System Transformation and COVID-19 What kind of mindset and action is needed now?
Community-anchored care is one reason why some regions of the world have fared better that others in their COVID-19 response. Come hear about successes from places like Cuba and the Balearic Islands (Spain) and discuss how these lessons apply to Ontario Health System transformation.
RNAO's slides for webinar above
Aug. 10, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 15)
Topic: Nurses' mental health and experiences of leaves of absence and a healthy return to work
Speakers:
- Abby Ayoub (University of Ottawa)
- Melanie Lavoie-Tremblay (McGill University)
- Ivy Bourgeault (University of Ottawa)
RNAO's slides for webinar above
Presenter's slides for webinar above
July 6, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 14)
Topic: Reuniting families and residents: What will it take?
Learn from a panel as they discuss this critical and timely topic and hear about related updates from RNAO, including ECCO 3.0, Bill 175 and the Nursing Home Basic Care Guarantee.
June 29, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 13)
Topic: #Masks4Canada and the sharing of good data with guest speaker Dr. Kwan
Speaker:
- Dr. Jennifer Kwan, family physician and one of the organizers of #Masks4Canada
June 22, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 12)
Topic: Impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous Communities
Speakers:
- ORC RoseAnne Archibald
- Mae Katt, Nurse Practitioner, Temagami First Nation
- Marilee A. Nowgesic, CEO, Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
June 15, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 11)
Topic: Let's talk about racism
Speakers:
- Allison Dalby
- Hoodo Ibrahim
- Nora Van Dalen
- Shirley Davis & Anthony Morgan
June 8, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 10)
Topic: Mental health and addiction
Speakers:
- Kimberly Moran, CEO, Children's Mental Health Ontario
- Camille Quenneville, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association
- Adrienne Spafford, CEO, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario
June 1, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 9)
Topic: Action for long-term care
May 25, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 8)
Topic: Re-opening the province and safe practices
Speaker:
- Dr. Jeff Powis, Chief of Infection Prevention and Control, Michael Garron Hospital
May 11, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 7)
Topic: Nursing Week 2020 edition: Stories of knowledge, compassion and courage during COVID-19
Speakers:
- Esther Moghadam, Director, Health Promotion and Chief Nursing Officer, Ottawa Public Health
- Kathleen Foley, Director of Quality Improvement and Evaluation, South Riverdale Community Health Centre
- Shirlee Sharkey, President and CEO, SE Health
- Tracy Comeau, Executive Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged
- Irene Andress - Irene Andress, VP, Patient Experience, Health Professions & Chief Nursing Executive, Michael Garron Hospital
May 4, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 6)
April 27, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 5)
April 20, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 4)
April 13, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 3)
April 6, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 2)
March 30, 2020: COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It! (Part 1)
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