TORONTO – Feb. 23, 2010 – Recent health-care figures point to the need for a strategy that will keep more mid-career nurses in the profession. According to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) statistics compiled by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) show a dramatic decrease in the share of nurses aged 35-49. 

Doris Grinspun, executive director of RNAO says the drop in mid-career nurses is a worrisome trend and means attention must be focused on this group to ensure the expertise of these RNs is retained for the benefit of patients in Ontario’s health-care system. Grinspun says her association is so concerned about the  problem it is holding a mid-career nursing conference this week to examine what support these nurses need to keep them working in our province.


WHAT:     Mid-Career Nurse Symposium

WHERE:   Hyatt Hotel, 370 King Street West, Toronto

WHEN:     Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHO:      -Vanessa Burkoski
                Chief Nursing Officer, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
                -Doris Grinspun
                 Executive Director, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
               -Linda McGillis Hall
                University of Toronto (author of “Stuck in the Middle: Addressing the
               needs of Mid-Career Nurses in Ontario”)

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has lobbied for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.
 
For more information about RNAO, visit our website at www.rnao.ca. You can also check out our Facebook page at www.rnao.ca/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rnao.

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