April 4 2022 COVID-19 report
Dear Colleagues: Welcome to my Monday, April 4 blog during this twenty sixth month of COVID-19 in Ontario. You can find earlier update reports here, including thematic pieces in Doris’ COVID-19 Blog. And, for the many resources RNAO offers on COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Portal where you will also find RNAO media hits and releases on the pandemic here. Share this report and link broadly. Scroll down for Action Alerts and upcoming RNAO webinars.
I continue to struggle witnessing the atrocities committed in Ukraine and thinking about the more than 10 million Ukrainians who have been displaced internally or who have become refugees across borders.
I also think about the tragedies not profiled by our media that remain largely ignored. For example, about 30 million people are experiencing alarming hunger, severe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in north-eastern Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen. As reported by Oxfam, 10 million of them are facing emergency and famine conditions. These are just four of the many countries that are facing high levels of food insecurity this year. In Malawi, Sudan, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Syria millions of people do not have enough food to feed their families. The situation in some of these countries could worsen if the international community does not address urgent needs and resolve the root causes, including wars, poverty, and climate change.
COVID has been an enormous scourge on our physical and mental health, as well as a huge blow to our economic security in affluent countries such as Canada. Imagine what COVID has brought to poor countries that do not have the resources or the healthcare systems to cope with such emergencies. These are countries, such as many in Sub-Saharan Africa, where our actions – yes, Canadian policies – have disallowed them from accessing COVID-19 vaccines, as we have reported earlier in this blog.
Our collective work to achieve a just and lasting peace everywhere, climate action, and shared and equitable prosperity and wellbeing, remains the only path to reach health-for-all.
On a separate and sad note, RNAO joins with a broken heart the loss of long time RNAO member and Faith Community Nursing Interest Group (FCNIG) Mary Lynch who passed away suddenly on March 8. Speaking with Mary’s husband, Gerry, was a blessing as we shared the many beautiful memories about his dear spouse.
Mary was FCNIG’s president for two years, membership executive network officer for six years and most recently held the region 8 representative position for the interest group. She was a nurses' nurse, and one of the kindest persons I know. Mary will be sorely missed at our Assembly, QPD and AGMs. We are grateful for Mary’s incredible contributions to the profession and mourn the loss of a friend and colleague.
This week we share: 1) Save the date for RNAO’s 97th Annual General Meeting: June 9 – 11, 2022; 2) RNAO’s ongoing media profile – the February and March 2022 report; and 3) an article on social media as a public health crisis, calling to treat it like one.
Save the date for RNAO’s 97th Annual General Meeting: June 9 – 11, 2022
To explore nurses’ experiences over the past year, the theme for this year’s virtual 97th Annual General Meeting (AGM) happening June 9 – 11 is “COVID-19 pandemic: Nursing through crisis.”
This is your chance to gather with your community of RNs, NPs and nursing students in a virtual space to reflect on the past year and look ahead at the opportunities to strengthen the nursing profession for the current workforce, for the next generation of nurses, and for Ontarians.
Register now for the AGM, view the schedule of events and stay tuned for more details in the near future. If you’re attending: tag @RNAO and use #RNAOAGM in your tweets.
RNAO’s ongoing media profile: The February and March 2022 report
RNAO continues to speak about prominent nursing and health-care issues. This is a report on our media outreach during the months of February and March.
During February, media stories included coverage on the Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) report, RNAO’s responses to the reinstatement of Canada’s chief nursing officer role and Ontario’s announcement to ease public health measures, the release of our provincial election platform, and our continued advocacy to #RepealBill124 and fast-track internationally educated nurses (IEN) already living in Ontario to practice nursing.
In March media stories included coverage on the RNAO-CMAT partnership and RNAO nurses providing care to Ukrainian refugees. We also spoke about RNAO’s responses to the following provincial government announcements: retention payments for eligible nurses, the end of the mask mandate and mandatory vaccination policies in long-term care (LTC) homes, and legislation to help strengthen the health-care system. We also shared our position on the federal Liberal-NDP agreement to deliver on dental care and pharmacare.
February
On Feb. 8, RNAO’s BNTF released its groundbreaking report, Acknowledging, Addressing and Tackling Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination Within the Nursing Profession, which outlines 19 recommendations to tackle structural racism in the nursing profession. In our media release, we said “RNAO is calling for an end to anti-Black racism within the profession and the dismantling of systemic racism in Ontario.” The BNTF’s co-chairs, RNAO’s Past-President Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite and NP Corsita Garraway, led this important work and were featured in numerous media interviews across multiple platforms to discuss the report and their experiences with anti-Black discrimination.
In the Toronto Star (Feb. 8), Garraway shared the story of a Black patient who was suffering with gangrene that had gone long unnoticed by health-care workers. “I feel like people just don’t always take the time when they see us,” Garraway said. On CBC Radio (Feb. 9), Cooper Brathwaite shared that there are not enough Black nurses in leadership positions: “Black nurses are underrepresented in leadership but are overrepresented at the frontlines, regardless of what education they have.” Cooper Brathwaite also spoke to CBC News (Feb. 8) about the need for more Black representation in nursing schools: “I have attended three Canadian universities in three different provinces and I’ve never had a Black professor.” In the same story, BNTF member and co-chair of RNAO’s Black Nurses Leading Change interest group Daria Adèle Juüdi-Hope says she has experienced racism on the job but felt humanized once she began working with Indigenous communities. “That is the only place I’ve worked in Canada where people see me, don’t think less of me, respect my education and respect what I have to bring to the table,” she explained.
In a Globe and Mail (Feb. 21) op-ed co-written by Cooper Brathwaite, Garraway and me, we highlighted the need to expunge racism from our profession. “Racism deprives the service, academic and policy sectors of Black expertise, experience and talents. Excluding Black nurses is a lose-lose situation for everyone,” we wrote. I encourage you to read and share the BNTF’s incredibly important report and join us as we continue inspiring and delivering change. We urge you to sign this Action Alert.
Earlier in the month, on Feb. 1, RNAO was thrilled with Health Canada’s call for a chief nurse officer. RNAO initiated and lead nationally the call to reinstate the position of chief nurse officer. RNAO wrote letters to Prime Minister Trudeau, spoke with the PM directly, discussed in the media, and included it again in its 2021 federal election platform. I told the Toronto Star (Feb. 2) that the chief nursing officer will bring the collective voice of nurses to decision makers in parliament.
On Feb. 14, the Ontario government announced it would be moving to the next phase of reopening on Feb. 17. These new measures included increasing indoor social gathering limits to 50 people and removing capacity limits for restaurants, bars, cinemas and gyms. The government also announced its plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements for all settings on March 1. RNAO issued a media release in response to this announcement urging the government to maintain key public health measures to address the catastrophic surgical backlog. In the release, RNAO President Morgan Hoffarth said, “Nurses continue to be on the forefront of care and urge the government to maintain vaccine passports as these encourage people to get vaccinated which must continue to be a key priority to allow the health system to stabilize.” I echoed this in a CityNews (Feb. 15) interview and explained that taking away vaccine passports and putting the onus on businesses to continue to enforce this measure is an error. I also noted that “we need to stabilize the health system for people that have been patiently and anxiously waiting for a long time for their procedures and surgeries.”
RNAO also continues to advocate in media interviews for expedited processing of IEN applications so they can practice nursing in Ontario and help to alleviate our province’s nursing crisis. In a letter to the editor published in the Kingston Whig-Standard (Feb. 18), I said: “We must enable all IENs who are eagerly waiting on the sidelines to join the workforce.” RNAO continues our #IENaction social media campaign to raise awareness and urge the government to take action. Visit the webpage to learn how you can participate.
On Feb. 23, RNAO held its 22nd annual Queen’s Park Day virtually. This signature event allows for our members to hear from leaders from all political parties and ask them questions about important issues. The morning of the event, we held a media conference to release our 2022 provincial election platform. With the provincial election approaching on June 2, it is important to make nurses’ voices heard. On CP24 (Feb. 24), I said that “without nurses there is no health-care system.” During QPD, Minister of Health Christine Elliott announced that the provincial government has expanded the scope of practice for NPs to order MRI and CT scans as well as perform point of care testing, effective July 1, 2022. NPs play an important role in our health-care system and RNAO is pleased to see our advocacy has once again elicited necessary action from government.
March
In early March, RNAO partnered with the Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT) to call for RNs and NPs to volunteer to provide care for refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine. On March 5, executive director of CMAT and RNAO member and NP Valerie Rzepka and RNAO member and RN Brandon Duncan, travelled to Poland and a team of nurses, doctors and other health providers arrived shortly after them. Rzepka told CTV News (March 18) that it was busy at the Polish-Ukrainian border: “Our team here is a primary medical team and we are providing medical care to people who are walking or driving across the border.” RNAO member and RN Ameek Singh shared with Global News (March 19) that he was amazed to see all the volunteers coming together to help people. “I just want to show that this is the Canadian way,” said Singh, adding that “We try our best to help each other and that same spirit is alive here as well.” RNAO member Jordan Lenz, another member of the deployment, is also cited in the article. Duncan, who is from Southwestern Ontario, told the London Free Press (March 21), “This is my passion… offering my services to people who are in the most desperate time of their lives and giving them a little glimmer of hope.” RNAO member, RN and MPP Natalia Kusendova, who played a key role in the response efforts, was profiled in a CBC Radio interview. To learn more about the CMAT response in Ukraine and see more news stories, visit RNAO’s website. Other RNAO members who joined the CMAT deployment are NP Corsita Garraway and former RNAO Board of Directors member RN Nathan Kelly.
On March 7, the Ontario government announced details of retention bonus payments of up to $5,000 to eligible nurses in the province. However, the premier did not agree to #RepealBill124 which caps wage increases for nurses and other public sector workers to one per cent annually. On CP24 Tonight (March 7), I said that while the temporary retention payment begins to acknowledge the extended stress nurses have had, the bonus is not enough. “What will help retain nurses is both the compensation and the workloads,” I said. “The workloads are brutal and need to improve. Retaining nurses is essential.” I urge the premier to repeal Bill 124 to keep nurses in the profession and show them the respect they deserve. If you haven’t already, please sign and share our Action Alert to demand Premier Ford #RepealBill124.
On March 9, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore announced the government’s decision to lift the mask mandate in most indoor settings (effective March 21) and the vaccination mandates in LTC homes (effective March 14). In our response, RNAO called this move ill-conceived. On AM800 (March 9), RNAO President Morgan Hoffarth said many settings, including classrooms, still don’t have the infrastructure in place to be safe. “It feels too early. There’s still a lot of areas where physical distancing isn’t possible, and ventilation isn’t great. We have people who will continue to be at risk,” said Hoffarth. In a letter published in the Globe and Mail (March 13), I noted that many children are still too young to be vaccinated and vaccination rates for those who are five to 11 are low. “The government’s actions risk undoing the gains we have made to contain COVID-19,” I wrote. RNAO board member and RN Debra Lefebvre shared her concerns for hospitals with The Kingston Whig-Standard (March 18): “With the lifting of mask mandates and leaving people to make their own decisions about masking, this could lead us into another crisis in overflow and cause a huge surge demand… by way of staff.” The pandemic is not over. I encourage you to continue wearing your mask and to get vaccinated.
On March 29, Minister of Health Christine Elliott announced the government’s plan to expand policies and measures to ensure the province has a more resilient health-care system that can better respond to crises. This plan includes expanding the Community Commitment Program for Nurses that would reimburse tuition for RN and RPN students who commit to practice in underserved communities for two to four years. On CP24 (March 29) I said that ensuring rural and northern communities have the number of nurses they need is incredibly important. “We need to provide good access everywhere in the province for everybody.” The plan also includes making it easier and quicker for internationally educated nurses (IEN) to join Ontario’s nursing workforce by reducing barriers to registration, including prohibiting regulatory colleges from making Canadian experience a requirement for qualification and streamlining conditions on language proficiency. While there are many positive aspects to this plan, I told the Globe and Mail (March 29) that it does little to counter Bill 124. “That is the real killer of retention for nurses,” I said.
On March 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh announced a historic agreement that would see the NDP support the minority Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for movement on a number of NDP policy priorities, including a national dental care program and pharmacare. In an RNAO media release issued in response, I said this agreement “represents a way forward to improve the health and wellbeing of Canadians.” RNAO is also pleased the agreement addresses critical social and environmental determinants of health. RNAO’s President Morgan Hoffarth says “increasing investments in affordable housing is essential. Housing is a fundamental determinant of health.” RNAO has advocated for years on the need for action in these areas, most recently in our 2021 federal election platform. I am pleased to see the Liberals and NDPs working together to improve the health care of all Canadians.
Media outreach in February resulted in 217 media hits and in March resulted in 97 media hits. We will continue to speak out on important issues and push for the federal and provincial governments to take action when and where it’s needed. For the latest RNAO media interviews and activities, visit our COVID-19 press room and engage with us on Twitter.
Social media is a public health crisis – Let’s treat it like one
“It’s time to take old approaches to a new threat of addiction.”
Below is an article published on July 20, 2021 by Helen Lee Bouygues in U.S. NEWS. She is the founder of the Reboot Foundation. You can find the original article here.
When it comes to social media, the red flags just keep appearing.
Amid debate, experts have found that social media use appears linked to negative mental health impacts among young people. Researchers have noted a rise in depression among young people since about 2012, with use of social media among teens and their amount of time spent online increasing in close proximity. Earlier this year, the Reboot Foundation, which I run [Helen Lee Bouygues], surveyed more than 1,000 Americans on their social media usage – and found a disturbing impact on mental health.
All this points to how our social media usage has become a public health crisis. I believe we need to start treating these platforms like we do cigarettes and alcohol. That means implementing warning labels and age restrictions, and conducting better research into the health effects of long-term usage.
Just last week, President Joe Biden said the rampant misinformation on Facebook related to COVID-19 is "killing" people. Yet while the explosion and prevalence of misinformation of this type is a serious problem, it is by no means the only threat to public health. Social media's threat to our national mental health is at least as dangerous as anti-vaccine disinformation.
Sound over the top? Then consider that more than half of people we surveyed acknowledged that their social media use intensified their feelings of anxiety, depression or loneliness. They also told us that it contributed to their low self-esteem and made it harder for them to concentrate. Yet despite recognizing these deleterious effects, only about a third said they had taken steps to limit their social media use, such as deleting or suspending social media accounts, turning off their phones or limiting time on their feeds.
I find it incredible that even though users know the harm social media is having on their mental health, they're unwilling – or unable – to limit their use of these platforms. It's a lot like smokers and their cigarettes. We should treat it that way.
What's required is nothing less than digital detox, on a societywide scale.
What if every time you opened Instagram, you first saw a warning label like those found on cigarettes? "Caution: Social Media May Be Hazardous to Your Mental Health."
Or when you logged into Facebook, you saw this: "Warning: Facebook may increase feelings of depression or loneliness and suicidal thoughts."
Or whenever you received a Twitter notification, this came with it: "Warning: Heavy social media use is linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety."
There is a strong urge to dismiss concerns about social media as a "moral panic" and to compare it to other communication innovations like the printing press or the telephone, which raised serious worries in their own time that turned out to be largely unfounded. But there's good reason to think we are dealing with a very different problem today.
With a growing body of research confirming the link between social media and poor mental health, it may be time to consider government regulations restricting who can create a social media account. If you must be 18 to buy tobacco products or 21 to drink alcohol, why can any 13-year-old with internet access open a TikTok account?
There's no doubt that, in the coming years, research will produce new insights into social media, its negative effects and possible policy solutions. That's sorely needed. But scientific progress takes time. Meanwhile, more must be done today to lessen the negative impacts of social media, on both an individual and societal level. This means improving the social media environment itself, and encouraging people to use it in a healthier way.
As tech and social media have become more and more addictive, "digital detox" has become more and more popular. A break from smartphones, and especially social media, has been shown, both anecdotally and in research, to increase people's productivity, lift their mood and help them spend more time with loved ones.
The list of people who've turned to digital detox is long. There's the writer who was spending 40 hours a week on her phone and making little progress on her novel; or the tech journalist who couldn't tear himself away from Twitter to the point that he was ignoring his friends; or the New Yorker trying to build a career in fashion who took a break to help him make connections in the city.
But voluntary breaks aren't enough, primarily because people won't take them. Our research has shown that some 40% of social media users would give up their pet or car before they'd give up their accounts. And shockingly, more than 70% said they would not permanently scrap their social media for anything less than $10,000.
This is not healthy behavior.
Social media is currently designed for virality and addiction. People may willingly share their data in exchange for a free service that they value. But they have not agreed to submit to experimental manipulation that encourages slot machine-like behavior and can drive feelings of anxiety and depression. What's more, the algorithmic elevation of sensationalistic content distorts users' perception of political realities, promotes polarization, and worse. Limits, standards and regulation are needed.
It's time we started treating social media for what it is: an addictive activity with serious health implications. Detoxifying from social media will require commitment on several different levels – regulatory, educational and individual.
Ultimately, this challenge can become an opportunity to prioritize mental health and clear thinking, and to cherish that most precious gift of all: our minds.
ACTION ALERTS AND MUST JOIN EVENTS – OPEN TO ALL
Action Alert: Be an ally to Black nurses and inspire system change
The recently released report of RNAO’s Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) provides a comprehensive set of recommendations to dismantle anti-black racism and discrimination in nursing. On March 23, 2022, RNAO issued a request to all provincial party leaders to include these recommendations in their platforms for the June 2, 2022 election.
Join us! Call on all provincial party leaders to be an ally and add BNTF recommendations to their election platforms.
Systemic racism is entrenched in the history of nursing and our health-care system, and continues to have a devastating impact on the lived experiences of both racialized nurses and patients. The BNTF was formed, and its report was written, to move beyond solidarity and interrupt complicity to promote transformational change. The report’s priority recommendations include:
- the need for urgent advocacy to address racism against Black nurses
- diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) education and awareness building at individual, organizational and policy levels
- greater mentorship and support for Black nurses
- partnership with allies and stakeholders leading anti-Black racism initiatives
- equitable and fair human resources processes
- a commission to investigate and address racism against Black Canadians
The BNTF has opened the door for everyone to become allies by challenging the injustices of the past and by building a fair and better future for Black nurses and, by extension, all of us. So, join us and call on all provincial party leaders to add the BNTF’s recommendations to their election platforms.
For further details, and to sign the Action Alert, please go here.
#IENaction: letter and social media campaign
In the midst of Ontario’s nursing crisis, thousands of internationally educated nurses (IEN) remain unable to practise while their applications to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) languish, often for years.
In a letter, RNAO has called on the CNO to immediately address the backlog of more than 20,000 IEN applications from nurses eager to join Ontario’s workforce at a time of dire need. RNAO has long urged the CNO to adopt a more streamlined approach to process these applications.
As part of its advocacy on fast-tracking the IEN application process, RNAO is launching a social media campaign. RNAO invites IENs to send RNAO a picture with a sign telling us your country of origin, if you practiced there as an RN, RPN or NP, and how long you've been waiting for your nursing credentials to be validated in Ontario. Watch RNAO's video for more information.
To learn more, join the social media campaign and stay updated on the issue, please read the media release and visit the official #IENaction webpage in RNAO’s COVID-19 portal.
COVID-19 Webinar Series
Apr 11, 2022, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
This month we will host the executive director of Canadian Medical Assistance Team (CMAT) and RNAO member and NP Valerie Rzepka. In early March, RNAO partnered with CMAT to call for RNs and NPs to volunteer to provide care for refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine. Valerie will be back from the mission and will be sharing about the experience and the work that nurses and other healthcare providers are doing with refugees at the Ukrainian-Polish borders.
RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun will update on recent developments and the association’s involvement in several policy areas.
Upcoming webinars:
April 11, 2022, 2- 4 p.m. ET
Details coming soon.
Additional date: May 9, 2022, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Archived webinars can be seen here.
Best Practice Champions Virtual Workshop Session 1
Apr 19, 2022, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
The Best Practice Champions Network team has established a new, two-part Best Practice Champions Virtual Workshop to replace the in-person champions workshops. This free, online educational opportunity consists of a brief pre-recorded introductory video, and two live virtual sessions to be completed in sequential order.
For further details and registration, please go here.
Navigating Common Problems When Leading Change: Strategies for Champions to Succeed
Apr 20, 2022, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Change is rarely a perfect, linear process. Instead, it often unfolds more slowly than planned and sometimes with unexpected problems.
In this webinar, we will examine four common problems that can occur when implementing guidelines including:
- loss of momentum;
- lack of energy for change;
- communications regarding the change that no longer inspire staff; and
- lack of frontline staff who emerge as informal leaders of change.
We will review some strategies to address common implementation problems and highlight some tools and resources from the Leading Change Toolkit™ that may help.
During this presentation, participants will learn how to:
- rebuild momentum through strategies such as engaging champions and aiming for quick wins
- understand the sources or domains of energy for change and how to enhance them
- apply the six elements of effective framing to re-ignite motivation for the change
- navigate opposition to the change
Presenters:
Jamesi Sutherland, RN, MBA (candidate), RNAO implementation science manager
Katherine Wallace, RN, MHS, RNAO senior manager, implementation science project lead – Leading Change Toolkit
Related links: Receptivity to change
Register for the NP Virtual Institute happening April 21
Calling all NPs, NP students and RNs aspiring to be NPs: Join RNAO on Thursday, April 21 from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET for the NP Virtual Institute.
The institute will:
- inspire NP connections to foster resilience and self compassion
- ignite your passion for clinical excellence
- build your leadership and advocacy skills to drive meaningful practice and policy enhancements
- spotlight unique NP practice roles from a case-based perspective
For more details, please visit the official event page. This event is free for RNAO members. If you are not a member, you can join here now.
Save your spot: register for the NP Virtual Institute now.
Call for abstracts
Do you have research or a quality improvement project you would like to have featured at the NP Virtual Institute event? Apply today for the chance to present your findings.
Best Practice Champions Virtual Workshop - Session 2
Apr 26, 2022, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
The Best Practice Champions Network team has established a new, two-part Best Practice Champions Virtual Workshop. This free, online educational opportunity consists of a brief pre-recorded introductory video, and two live virtual sessions to be completed in sequential order.
The Best Practice Champions Virtual Workshop series will be offered monthly, with session 1 and session 2 taking place once a month. This will provide you with ample opportunity to select the live session that best suits your work schedule. This online educational opportunity can be completed individually or as a group.
For further details and registration, please go here.
MOH EOC Situational Report
According to the latest Situation Report #649 for April 1, the case count was as follows: 1,166,128 total, +3,519 change from yesterday; 12,451 deaths, +18 change from yesterday.
For a detailed Ontario epidemiological summary from Public Health Ontario, you can go here.
Staying in touch
Keeping in touch and being part of a community helps us get through challenging times. Keep telling us how we, at RNAO, can best support you. Send us your questions, comments, and challenges. Recommend ideas for articles and webinars. Write to me at <dgrinspun@rnao.ca> and copy my executive assistant Michelle Rangel <mrangel@rnao.ca>. RNAO’s Board of Directors and our entire staff want you to know: WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
Thank you for continuing to be there for your community, everywhere and in all roles! Together, in solidarity, we are stronger. Thanks for encouraging your colleagues, their loved ones and your communities to be fully vaccinated – including booster shots. Keep reminding them that COVID-19 is aerosol and that proper ventilation and N95 masking is not just preferred but necessary. Tell everyone that COVID-19 is not gone and being smart means keeping a mask in all indoor public places to protect oneself, our loved ones and our communities. Thinking “we” instead of “me” means we are also caring to protect the most vulnerable amongst us.
Let’s also be thoughtful and remember Dr. Tedros when he says that “#VaccinEquity remains the single most powerful tool we have to save lives.” Canada has purchased more vaccines than what it needs, while the majority of the poor remains unvaccinated. Like with other challenges we face – systemic discrimination and climate change – we are not safe until everyone is safe. Vaccines for all – literally for all, across the world – must guide policy in the upcoming months. Let’s learn from the 26-month pandemic and take real action to build a better world.
To everyone – THANK YOU! Please take care of yourself and know that RNAO always stands by you!
Here’s one constant throughout the pandemic. The silver lining of COVID-19 has been to come together and work as one people for the good of all. Let’s join efforts to demand that political leaders protect patients, students, and workers – and secure #Vaccines4All.
Doris Grinspun, RN,MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), Dr(hc), FAAN, FCAN, O.ONT
Chief Executive Officer, RNAO
RECENT BLOG ITEMS:
28 Mar - RNAO sends letter to Ontario political parties on anti-Black racism – go here.
28 Mar - Omicron BA.2 subvariant becoming dominant, representing potential risk – go here.
28 Mar - Media release: RNAO applauds federal Liberal/NDP partnership to improve health and wellbeing of Canadians – go here.
11 Mar - RNAO commemorates the #NationalDayOfObservance – go here.
11 Mar - Persisting with masks after vaccination has major economic, health benefits, Lancet study says – go here.
11 Mar - Ontario’s decision to drop mask mandate puts politics ahead of science, risking gains made – go here.
11 Mar - CMAT gets ready to head to Poland and Ukraine – how you can help their urgent appeal – go here.
25 Feb - Solutions exist for Canada’s alt-right radicalization – go here.
25 Feb - Black and Indigenous protesters are treated differently than the ‘convoy’ because of Canada’s ongoing racism – go here.
25 Feb - RNAO releases its 2022 provincial election platform; calls on party leaders to prioritize Ontarians’ health – go here.
16 Feb - A better post-pandemic future means not giving in to COVID-19 now – go here.
16 Feb - Restoring community dialogue and resilience: The next COVID-19 emergency – go here.
16 Feb - Key public health measures needed to address catastrophic surgical backlog – go here.
10 Feb - Whose freedom is the ‘freedom convoy’ fighting for? Not everyone’s – go here.
10 Feb - The whole world should be worried by the ‘siege of Ottawa’. This is about much more than a few anti-vaxx truckers – go here.
10 Feb - Nursing report calls to end anti-Black racism and discrimination within the profession – go here.
10 Feb - Visit RNAO’s In Focus page on Black Nurses – go here.
2 Feb - Let’s not play Russian roulette with Omicron and embrace it as inevitable – go here.
2 Feb - RNAO calls out extremist and hateful actions driven by far-right on display in Ottawa – go here.
2 Feb - Honouring Black History Month 2022 – go here.
26 Jan - Listening to internationally educated nurses living in Ontario and eager to nurse – go here.
26 Jan - RNAO’s letter to the College of Nurses of Ontario regarding IENs – go here.
26 Jan - Prioritize health system pressures ahead of lifting public health measures – go here.
18 Jan - TousAntiCovid - France's contact tracing tool and health pass – go here.
18 Jan - RNAO’s submission to the Toronto Board of Health on return to school – go here.
12 Jan - A message as we begin 2022 amid a fifth wave – go here.
12 Jan - A health system on the verge of total collapse – An open letter to Premier Doug Ford – go here.
12 Jan - RNAO’s continuing media profile: The December 2021 report – go here.
12 Jan - Canada isn’t responding with foresight when it comes to COVID-19 – go here.
21 Dec - RNAO addresses nursing crisis, Omicrom-led wave and preventing health-system collapse – go here.
14 Dec - What we know about Omicron two weeks after it became a variant of concern – go here.
14 Dec - Omicron variant caseload expected to 'rapidly escalate' in the coming days, Tam says – go here.
14 Dec - Repeal Bill 124 – RNAO asks for pledge of support from Members of the Provincial Parliament – go here.
14 Dec - Ontario’s nursing crisis: Next steps in #RepealBill124 campaign – go here.
7 Dec - RNAO’s continuing media profile: The November 2021 report – go here.
7 Dec - South African envoy calls on Canada to support waiver on COVID-19 vaccines – go here.
7 Dec - RNAO welcomes expansion of boosters and says Omicron is the #VaccineInjusticeVariant – go here.
We have posted earlier ones in my blog here. I invite you to look.