Nurses to discuss health system transformation at RNAO’s 94th Annual General Meeting

With the provincial government moving quickly to transform the health system, more than 600 registered nurses (RN), nurse practitioners (NP), and nursing students will meet to discuss the key roles they will play to optimize Ontarians’ health outcomes. This will take place at the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)’s 94th Annual General Meeting.

At the Hilton Toronto on April 11-13, nurses will celebrate the past year’s achievements and engage with Ontario’s top leaders and government officials before hearing a closing keynote presentation about health system restructuring, to be delivered by Helen Angus, deputy minister for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

“With Ontario’s health-care landscape set to undergo a significant reform, we want to ensure our recommendations for action have been heard, leading RNs and NPs to play a central role to advance person-centred care and a seamless, timely and responsive health system,” says RNAO president Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite. “The AGM theme this year is Speaking out for nursing. Speaking out for health, which illustrates the work RNAO does every single day on behalf of its 42,000 members.”

During the evening of April 11, nurses and other guests will hear from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Christine Elliott, New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath, Liberal Party interim leader John Fraser, and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner before honouring the association’s newest Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO) and welcoming Hôpital Montfort as RNAO’s first French BPSO host.

“RNAO is thrilled to welcome Hôpital Montfort as they become a go-to source for francophone organizations in Ontario and the rest of Canada, mentoring organizations to implement RNAO’s BPSO program,” says RNAO CEO and program founder Dr. Doris Grinspun. “We are also proud to welcome 19 organizations from across Ontario and Jamaica who have implemented and evaluated RNAO’s best practice guidelines (BPG) to improve patient care and health outcomes.”

During the business portion of the AGM on April 12, nurses will discuss several issues arising in the nursing and health-care landscape such as improving integrated health services and research for persons living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, funding an NP interprofessional collaboration with midwives and re-implementing the 2015 sex education curriculum. The association will also hand out its annual Recognition Awards to 12 RNs, NPs, and other health professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and present its annual Media Awards to recognize outstanding nursing and health reporting.

“We look forward to seeing our members in Toronto this year and honouring the work they have achieved,” says Cooper Brathwaite. “RNAO represents an enormous and united force of nurses that work together every day to make a difference in nursing, health, health care.”

Highlights from RNAO’s 2019 AGM include:

Thursday, April 11 6:30 – 9 p.m.

- Mike Schreiner, Green Party leader at 6:30 p.m.

- Christine Elliott, Ontario’s minister of health and long-term care at 6:35 p.m.

- Andrea Horwath, NDP leader at 6:45 p.m.

- John Fraser, interim Liberal party leader at 6:50 p.m.

- BPSO designation ceremony at 6:55 p.m.

- Signing ceremony: BPSO Host Hôpital Montfort at 7:20 p.m.

Friday, April 12 8:45 a.m. – 9 p.m.

- RNAO’s Doris Grinspun delivers her annual CEO report at 8:45 a.m.

- Leadership luncheon presentation on human trafficking: what is the role of the health-care provider at 12:15 p.m.

- Consultation session on members resolutions regarding the 2019 proposed resolutions at 2 p.m.

- RNAO’s president Angela Cooper Brathwaite delivers her president’s address at 3:55 p.m.

- Presentation of Recognition Awards throughout the day

- Presentation of Media Awards at President’s Banquet at 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 13 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

- Interest group meetings at 8 a.m.

- Closing keynote by Deputy Health Minister Helen Angus: Ontario’s Health System Restructuring at 11:30 a.m.

Members of the media are welcome to attend all events.

For social media, please use the hashtag #RNAOAGM.

RNAO is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated 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 RNAO.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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