Fall 2019

When Ottawa runner Rob Meredith collapsed in front of the U.S. Embassy with a little more than five kilometres left in his half marathon, Cornwall NP Marian Watt knew she needed to help. “I saw this gentleman across the street and he looked quite wobbly.

After months of anticipation, a public inquiry, called for by RNAO, delivered its recommendations for ensuring the safety and security of residents in the long-term care (LTC) system.

At its Sept. 11 meeting, RNAO’s board of directors released a list of recommendations it wanted federal parties to make note of as they finalized their policy platforms ahead of the Oct. 21 election.

As we bring you new content for RNJ, we also mark the start of a new membership year at RNAO. The fall is always an exciting time at home office, with all staff on deck to renew existing members and welcome new ones.

In my last column, I shared news about how RNAO continues to influence health system transformation by supporting Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO) applying to join Ontario Health Teams (OHT).

If you think about it, RNAO membership is one of the best ways nursing students can launch their professional careers. It literally prepares today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders.

A new health clinic that opened in Kingston in May is breaking down barriers for transgender and intersex patients seeking health care and resources.

In light of a national advisory council’s recommendation to implement universal, single-payer public pharmacare in Ontario, RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun spoke to various media outlets about how Canadian employers should get behind the plan as it will solve many challenges around access to prescription drugs.

To mark World Hepatitis Day on July 30, RN Dominica Anderson and fellow nursing colleagues set up a booth at Memorial Park in Sudbury to raise awareness and provide screening for the virus.

To prepare RNs for the intensive care unit (ICU), the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) and Bluewater Health have teamed up to create a new critical-care education course. The course includes lectures, simulations, case studies and skills shadowing.