On this page: The report | Nurses' voices | Recommendations | Participate in Take Your MPP To Work | Social media
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 release of RNAO’s Nursing Career Pathways report during a media conference held at Queen's Park media studios on March 2.
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
Provide competitive compensation and address pay disparities across health sectors
Focus on full-time employment, mentorship and professional development, occupational health and safety, leadership training, and other 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, such as RN prescribing, NP scope of practice and NP-led clinics.
Offer continuing education and professional development opportunities.
Fast-track registration of internationally educated nurses residing in Canada with the province’s regulatory body in a timely manner.
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).
Expand nursing education pathways so nurses can advance their education and careers.
Create a return to nursing program to attract 33,000 non-practising nurses in Ontario.
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.
© 2025 RNAO. All rights reserved.
