On this page: The report | Nurses' voices | Recommendations | Participate in Take Your MPP To Work | Social media

The report

RNAO President Dr. Claudette Holloway and CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun released Nursing Career Pathways report during a media conference moderated by Morgan Hoffarth, immediate past president. The report illustrates the many education and career opportunities within the nursing profession, and outlines how nurses play a central role when it comes to the health of Ontarians. It details the barriers that stand in the way of a thriving profession and the opportunities to ensure the retention and recruitment of nurses with a set of wide-ranging recommendations.

Watch the media conference

Watch the release of RNAO’s Nursing Career Pathways report during a media conference held at Queen's Park media studios on March 2.

Nurses Career Pathways report

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Nurses' voices

The public most often associates nurses with clinical roles and bedside care. Yet, nursing is a mature, diverse and sophisticated profession with countless educational and career pathways to explore. With such a variety of career routes and roles, nurses form the backbone of our health system. These profiled health-care workers are just a few of the unheralded tens-of-thousands who ensure that Ontarians receive the care they need.

 

 

RNAO past-president Dr. Vanessa Burkoski

RNAO President Dr. Claudette Holloway and RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun

Nurses from across Ontario 

Recommendations

The Nursing Career Pathways report outlines the following 24 retention and recruitment recommendations to break down longstanding barriers and actualize opportunities:

{
competitive compensation

Provide competitive compensation and address pay disparities across health sectors

{
health work environment

Focus on full-time employment, mentorship and professional development, occupational health and safety, leadership training, and other workplace supports

{
workplace supports

Focus on full-time employment, mentorship and professional development, occupational health and safety, leadership training, and other workplace supports.

{
expand scope of practice

Expand scope of practice, such as RN prescribing, NP scope of practice and NP-led clinics.

{
continuing education

Offer continuing education and professional development opportunities.

{
fast-track IEN registration

Fast-track registration of internationally educated nurses residing in Canada with the province’s regulatory body in a timely manner.

{
expanding nursing education seats

Expand nursing education seats by further increasing enrolments and funding in key educational programs (RNs, NPs, bridging programs, masters and PhD/DNP/DN-prepared RNs).

{
nursing education pathways

Expand nursing education pathways so nurses can advance their education and careers.

{
return to nursing program

Create a return to nursing program to attract 33,000 non-practising nurses in Ontario.

{
no racism

End systemic racism and discrimination by mandating the collection of race-based data, cultural safety education, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs.

Participate in Take Your MPP To Work

Interested in speaking with an elected official about your role and the current barriers that exist in the profession? Contact your local chapter or region without chapter about how to participate in a Take Your MPP To Work visit.

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Social media

Get involved. Use #NursingCareerPathways on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to participate in the ongoing dialogue.