Winter 2022

RNAO’s Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) released a report on Feb. 8 that addresses the systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination that exists in nursing.

On Jan. 11, the Ontario government announced a program to allow internationally educated nurses (IEN) to work in hospitals and long-term care homes that need staffing support. The province will run this program in partnership with Ontario Health and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

We are thrilled to congratulate RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun for receiving the 2021 Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award from the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s board of directors. The award honours exemplary achievements in nursing throughout her lifetime.

RNAO says that Premier Doug Ford should have addressed the challenges in the health system, including nursing shortages, in January 2022 by instituting added public health measures.

RN Wendy McNeil has worked in various critical care settings for the past 40 years. On Dec. 12, the long-time RNAO member resigned from her job at Sudbury’s Health Sciences North.

St. Lawrence College is offering a new, four-year bachelor of science in nursing degree. This is part of Ontario’s recent change to allow universities and colleges to offer their own baccalaureate degrees in nursing to increase opportunities for students. The first cohort of nursing students at St.

The Omicron variant, paired with a shortage of nurses due to burnout and Bill 124 (legislation which caps wage increases for nurses at one per cent – well below inflation), has created a dire situation in Ontario hospitals.

Throughout the pandemic, telemedicine and virtual visits have become common ways for members of the transgender and non-binary community to access primary care services, including gender-affirming hormone therapy.

RNAO member and Western University nursing student Elliott Hegel, in partnership with a friend who studies computer science at Carleton University, has developed a website that allows Ontarians to record their COVID-19 rapid test results.

I’m currently sitting on my couch, writing this column with my son Greyson next to me, and a children’s movie on the TV in the background. I want to share a bit about my life, as a mom, a nurse and a director of care.