News
Invite your colleagues to join RNAO for only $50
Happy Canada Day to RNAO’s 43,408 RN, NP and nursing student members. COVID-19 has truly taken a toll on us all, so please take time to refresh and re-energize.
Please invite non-members to join. We have a special promotion to join RNAO for only $50. This promotion gives new members all membership benefits and services including professional liability protection (PLP) at no extra charge. Tell your friends and co-workers to join the 43,408 RNs, NPs and nursing students who together speak out for nursing & health. Our voice has never been stronger. They can join by calling 1-800-268-7199 or going to myRNAO.ca/join.
RNAO’s virtual 95th AGM (June 11-13) celebrates the Year of the Nurse
RNAO marked the Year of the Nurse by recognizing the extraordinary efforts and achievements of members during its 95th Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year’s event, which is normally in-person and live-streamed, was held virtually (June 11-13) given the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Zoom and livestream, 802 viewers tuned in to RNAO’s AGM.
RNAO releases annual report focusing on mobilization
Over the past year, RNAO’s voice has been stronger than ever before.
Proof of that is laid out in words, pictures and graphics in RNAO’s annual report. Released during the AGM, the report builds on the theme of mobilization and is divided into five pillars: voice, powering, practice excellence, partnerships and collective identity. The report explores what each means, and how they link together in highlighting RNAO’s work over the past year.
RNAO calls for funding of mental health teams
There is a long list of Canadians who have been mistreated, died or killed at the hands of police when they were in distress and officers were called to the scene for wellness checks. That’s why RNAO is calling for funding of mental health teams as first responders to wellness checks.
Province must implement the “Nursing Home Basic Care Guarantee” by July 31, 2020
Tragically, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc through many of Ontario’s 626 long-term care homes, resulting in an avoidable disproportionate number of deaths due to long-standing shortcomings in the sector. These include severe understaffing of registered nurse staff to provide the complex and intense care needed. In RNAO’s submission to the government’s Long-Term Care Staffing Study Advisory Group, we call on the Ontario government to adopt, fund and implement a “Nursing Home Basic Care Guarantee” and its related staffing formula.
Ontario’s long-term care sector: Provincial government must act before July 31
If the Ontario government is serious about fixing the long-term care system, it must adopt evidence-based solutions documented in numerous reports that have examined the sector’s failings.
RNAO stands together with our Black sisters and brothers
RNAO mourns the death of George Floyd and all those who have succumbed to anti-Black racism and violence. RNAO stands together with sisters and brothers who continue to suffer the scourge of anti-Black racism and discrimination everywhere. RNAO unequivocally condemns racism, oppression and discrimination in all forms. That’s why we issued a statement in response to the protest marches and rallies organized to honour his life and the many other Black lives that matter.
Nurses celebrate diversity during Pride month
In honour of Pride month, RNAO and its interest group the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group (RNIG) continue to speak out against discrimination and social exclusion based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We continue to stay committed to celebrating diversity, inclusivity and equality.
Learning about the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous Communities
June is Indigenous History Month.
We are thrilled to celebrate the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous communities. RNAO is proud of its work supporting health interventions in Indigenous communities and partnering with them for capacity development at individual, organizational and system levels.
Membership
Speak out for nursing: Become a workplace liaison
Looking for more ways to speak out for nursing?
Become a workplace liaison and join almost 200 members who are giving a voice to nurses. This is a great opportunity to earn RNAO recruitment rewards, create a visible presence for RNs and NPs in your workplace and connect with your colleagues about your shared pride in your profession.
Volunteer opportunity: Become a student ambassador
Looking for ways to get more involved at RNAO as a student?
Student ambassadors represent RNAO on nursing school campuses. They are RNAO’s point persons among their fellow students and the link between a school’s nursing student body and RNAO’s home office.
Policy
RNAO’s 20th-annual Take Your MPP to Work is a resounding success
RNAO’s annual Take Your MPP to Work event went virtual this year due to COVID-19 physical distancing protocols.Take Your MPP to Work LIVE – Together We Can Do It launched during Nursing Week in May and featured 12 organizations representing various health settings co-hosting virtual meetings. Thirteen politicians took part, including the first ever visit with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Building a health system that delivers high-quality care
As nurses we know Ontarians need a health system with a stable workforce as well as equitable access to safe, person-centred and high-quality care.
This was part of RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun’s message during a virtual Bill 175 public hearing on June 16.
Changes announced to Exceptional Access Program
As of June 24, prescribers can designate any trusted persons such as RNs or admin to handle Exceptional Access Program (EAP) requests on their behalf.
Best Practice Guidelines
Supporting First Nations during COVID-19
In partnership with RNAO, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Shkaabe Makwa, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Chiefs of Ontario and Indigenous Services Canada hosted a webinar on June 24 to discuss the mental health and well-being of health-care providers during the pandemic.
Your opinion matters to us: survey for health-care providers in mental health
As part of RNAO’s Mental Health and Addiction initiative, we are conducting a program evaluation and developing a five-year strategic plan to help inform direction and priority activities for the initiative in order to support those working with clients experiencing mental health and/or substance use issues. As part of this evaluation, a short survey has been developed to help inform how we are doing
RNAO/ CAMH webinar needs assessment survey: We need your input
To help plan for a new webinar series, RNAO and CAMH is inviting you to share specific needs of your organizations, regions, communities and staff. Your guidance will help to identify your areas of interest in cannabis education and assist with the selection of topics and subject matter experts who will contribute to the development of this series.
Events
COVID-19 Webinar: Together We Can Do It
Weekly webinars on Mondays
Join us for weekly virtual town hall meetings to hear the latest news and pressing issues on COVID-19.
Best Practice Champions Workshop (Level 1) - Virtual Learning Series July 2020
July 21, 2020, Webinar
Learn about RNAO’s best practice guidelines and how to implement them using the Toolkit: Implementation of Best Practice Guidelines, Second Edition.
Lean Strategy for Skin & Wound Care
July 23, 2020, Webinar
Understand how the Lean strategy can help nurses meet best practices and legislative requirements in long-term care.
COVID-19
RNAO COVID-19 portal
RNAO’s user-friendly COVID-19 portal can help you find important and useful information about the virus. It includes update reports, RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun’s blog, webinars, tools for LTC and more.
Join the #TogetherWeCanDoIt campaign
RNAO began the #TogetherWeCanDoIt campaign on March 19, 2020 and it’s growing stronger and louder, spreading all over Ontario, Canada and even abroad! Each evening, the #Cheer4HealthWorkers initiative calls on everyone – from the doorsteps of their homes, back decks, balconies or windows – to cheer at 7:30 p.m. local time for the millions of health providers, social services and other essential frontline workers in Ontario, Canada and around the world engaged in the fight against this virus.
Join RNAO’s support groups on Facebook
RNAO recognizes the challenges health-care professionals and their families are going through during this time. To provide you with support, RNAO has established three Facebook Groups that are open to members and the public.