Dr. Doris Grinspun
When a cabinet minister asks: “Is the book out yet?” you know that book is important. That’s what happened when I congratulated Jim Wilson on his appointment as our new minister of economic development while at Queen’s Park for the July 12 Throne Speech. I was there with our president Angela Cooper Brathwaite and RNAO’s acting policy director Sarah Boesveld when he asked for the link to Transforming Nursing Through Knowledge, our recently released book.
Wilson was health minister when I began at RNAO as then executive director in 1996. RNAO was not the powerful organization it is now, but he and I were able to develop a strong working relationship based on respect.
During our visit to the legislature, I felt the strengthened presence of RNAO. I have seen our growth over two decades of working with different governments, and I have watched perspectives on nursing change. As a profession, we are now heard like never before. This bodes well for Ontarians and for nursing.
On June 7, Ontarians voted in a new government. Since then, the cabinet has taken shape, and we have been working closely with many politicians with whom we had already developed close relationships. They include ministers: Christine Elliott (health), Raymond Cho (seniors and accessibility), Steve Clark (municipal affairs and housing), Vic Fideli (finance), Ernie Hardeman (agriculture, food and rural affairs), Sylvia Jones (tourism, culture and sport), Lisa MacLeod (children, community and social services, and women’s issues), Monte McNaughton (infrastructure), Laurie Scott (labour), Todd Smith (government and consumer services, and government house leader), Lisa Thompson (education), Jim Wilson (economic development), John Yakabuski (transportation), and Jeff Yurek (natural resources). Members also have developed relationships with these and many other MPPs in their communities. These relationships will continue to flourish, as will our relationships with Ontario’s NDP, Liberal and Green party MPPs.
This is the beauty of RNAO and its policy – and non-partisan – approach to issues. Regardless of the party in power, we continue to be driven by healthy public policy and what’s best for Ontarians, while being fair and respectful in politics. We give praise when praise is due, and raise our voices when necessary.
Following the Throne Speech, reporters asked me how RNAO will work with the new government. The answer was straightforward. For RNAO, the first priority is Ontarians in times of health and illness. Everyone – without exception – is important to RNAO. Second, the health system belongs to Ontarians and needs to serve everyone today and for generations to come. As nurses, we are here to serve the people and the health system, not politicians. And we are very clear about that distinction. That is why our priorities have not changed from those outlined in RNAO’s pre-election policy platform Improving Health for All. We will continue to work with all elected MPPs to build a province we can all take pride in and enjoy.
The book shines a light on nursing’s collective success and its impact on a more responsive, effective, efficient health system.
Getting back to the book, Transforming Nursing Through Knowledge is about RNAO’s best practice guideline (BPG) program. I was so touched by Wilson’s recent query because this program began in 1998 with his PC colleague and esteemed former health minister Elizabeth Witmer. It has continued with premier after premier, each wholeheartedly embracing the program. It is inspiring to see premiers and ministers as proud of the BPG program as any nurse in Ontario and around the world.
Writing a book about our groundbreaking BPG program and forceful push towards evidence-based nursing practice was always in the back of my mind. It became a reality – within a year – though strategic planning and hard work with my colleague and co-author, Irmajean Bajnok, former director of the program.
The book delves into the development of BPGs, implementation science, and evaluation. I am so proud of the way we have brought theoretical concepts to life through the narratives of our Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO). We are doing the same in this issue of the Journal.
In writing the book, we had the exquisite support of Josephine Mo, my executive assistant, as well as our publisher, Sigma. We reached out to BPSOs at home and abroad to share their experiences and inspire others. BPSOs have one common goal: to arm nurses and other health professionals with the best evidence to inform their everyday practice and optimize patient outcomes.
The book shines a light on nursing’s collective success and its impact on a more responsive, effective, efficient health system. I hope you pick up a copy.