Fall 2023

In September, RNAO sent a letter to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), which represents nurses and other workers in the hospital and community   sectors, urging that it immediately stop any new investments in fossil fuels

On November 6, Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced that RNs will soon be able to independently prescribe certain medications, including medications for smoking cessation, anesthetics used topically

After 22 years of dedicated service, Heather McConnell, who first served as associate director (2007) and then director (2020) for RNAO’s IABPG Centre, retired in December 2023. Dr.

RNAO NP members Hoda Mankal and Joanna Binch are ready to bring mental health and addiction care, as well as primary care, to Ottawa’s most vulnerable. They’re just waiting for funding approval from the province to open their NP-led clinic and get to work.

RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun received an honorary doctorate from Chile’s University of Valparaíso in a ceremony held on Oct. 13, 2023.

In a letter to the editor, Sudbury RN Maria Casas, who is policy and political action executive network officer for the local chapter, writes about the dangers of moving towards for-profit health care (

On Nov. 11, RNAO President Dr. Claudette Holloway marked Remembrance Day at a service at East York Civic Centre Memorial Gardens, laying a wreath on behalf of the association and its 51,650 members.

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital held a career information night on Nov. 9 to encourage high school students to consider a career in health care. Students learned about a variety of jobs in nursing, physiotherapy, diagnostic imaging, respiratory therapy and nutrition (i.e. dietician).

RNAO member and RN Patrick Bélec has been volunteering as a standardized patient at Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University since 2021. As a standardized patient, he plays the role of a “real” patient for medical students who need to strengthen their clinical skills before graduating.