NP Lhamo Dolkar

In my first formal message as your president, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride as I am writing to fellow RNAO members. I am honoured and I am in awe of my responsibility to represent almost 52,000 RNs, NPs and nursing students. I was nervous when I approached the podium back in June for my first official presidential address. However, all of you, my fellow colleagues, cheered me on. I could feel you all motivating, encouraging and inspiring me like we all do for each other all the time.

I realize that I am not a conventional president, but I am one of you and I am committed to honouring the office I hold and to always upholding the values of RNAO. During the AGM this past June, we all came together and celebrated. We stood tall and reminisced about what we have collectively achieved and how we continue to impact nursing and health care. We reminded ourselves that we need to continue to speak out for nursing and speak out for health. This includes all the issues that impact health.

Nurses are loud, clear and right at the forefront, driving change and influencing policy and decision making that impacts health system transformation. And as RNAO members, we take pride in belonging to an organization that is not afraid to speak the truth, that advocates for difficult issues, and is considered one of the key drivers in the health system because we push for change based on the values of equity, diversity and inclusion. 

When I became your president, our CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun told me: “There is always a right president at the right time.” That was important to hear because when I was initially contemplating the role, I told her that I was not sure if the time was right for me. “There will never be a right time,” she said. “The time is always NOW…to advocate, to speak out and to work together as our nursing profession.” This, my fellow RN, NP and nursing student colleagues, speaks to the value of RNAO as an organization. We continuously uphold the values and principles of social justice, basic human rights and equity loudly and relentlessly.

I am a proud RNAO member and my heart fills with pride to say that as a membership-driven organization, we have been instrumental in influencing changes in the health system and social change.

I am so proud of RNAO as an organization that continues to be represented by leaders who come from all walks of life and belong to various diverse communities.

As a long-standing member, advocacy is not new to me. The year I served in the role as president-elect was a rich learning experience. I met so many members who continue to advocate on key issues such as environmental determinants of health, social determinants of health (homelessness and poverty), stopping RN replacement, utilizing RNs and NPs to their full scope of practice, health system transformation, and not-for-profit care.  

What inspires me the most is the active engagement of RNAO members. Friends, we know that our collective voice has already made a difference in this province, nationally and internationally. You, as members, are the engine that allows us to achieve what, at times, seems impossible. Let us continue to advocate for issues that impact health and keep our political representatives accountable for ensuring health equity. We cannot let profit-seeking organizations and groups create a rift within the nursing profession and erode our universal health-care system that we are all so proud of.

I believe that adversity and challenges are pathways to success. They define who we are and force us to find creative ways to solve problems. We all saw this when we heard the speakers during the AGM’s final keynote panel (read more in our AGM coverage). They shared stories that touched hearts, and each story spoke of resilience, innovation, compassion, intrinsic motivation and invested feelings in ensuring that we play our part in contributing to excellent, equitable patient care and speaking out for health, whether it is in academia, community, Indigenous health or acute care. I am so proud of RNAO as an organization that continues to be represented by leaders who come from all walks of life and belong to various diverse communities.

Let us demonstrate what a committed group of health professionals can achieve as we continue to move forward from one level of strength to the next and unite in diversity and inclusion. Our collective work demonstrates that we are a force to be reckoned with. I am committed to representing RNAO, alongside our CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun, Immediate Past-President Dr. Claudette Holloway and members of the board of directors.

I look forward to seeing some of you during our upcoming Fall Tour and during our assembly of leaders meeting in November.