Welcome to my Wednesday, January 26 blog. This week we share: 1) Listening to internationally educated nurses (IENs) living in Ontario and eager to work in our health system; 2) RNAO’s letter to the College of Nurses of Ontario regarding IENs; and 3) RNAO’s response to the government’s plan to start lifting public health measures soon. Scroll down for upcoming RNAO webinars.

France has been more successful than Canada in implementing a COVID-19 app. We extend our appreciation to Maia Foulis for bringing us this article that highlights the French experience with the app.

RNAO’s CEO Doris Grinspun made a deputation to the Toronto Board of Health on Jan. 17. RNAO recognizes the importance of our public education system for all children’s learning, physical, social and emotional development. In principle, there is no question – school is where kids and youth ought to be. However, the provincial government’s response to school safety has mirrored its response to the pandemic generally. Public health measures have been too little, too late – undermining our capacity to ameliorate the damage caused by the virus, and jeopardizing recovery.

Welcome to my Tuesday, January 18 blog. Huge thanks to the healthcare workers who drove and walked to get to work on the biggest snowstorm in decades, and those who stayed for shifts up to 30 hours straight when other workers became stranded in the snow. This week we share: 1) RNAO’s submission to the Toronto Board of Health on return to school; and 2) how France's contact tracing tool and health pass became the most popular app in the country. Scroll down for several upcoming RNAO webinars in January.

Global problems require global solutions. With COVID-19, however, we’re seeing that our governance mechanisms don’t drive global solutions even when our lives depend on it. In the current global landscape, the virus outsmarted us. Global vaccine roll-out has been inequitable: less than three per cent of people in low-income countries have been vaccinated as the richest countries hoard vaccines, and refuse to support waivers on COVID-19 vaccine patent rights or to keep pharmaceutical companies from bullying middle- and lower-income countries. This is an article by Gloria Novovic.

In December 2021, RNAO spoke to the media about several prominent, timely issues including the ongoing nursing shortage, Bill 124 and booster vaccines. We also commented on the Ontario government’s announcements prior to the holidays, including changes to capacity limits, testing requirements and reporting of cases.

RNAO issued a letter to Premier Doug Ford on Jan. 5, 2022. As the fifth wave of this pandemic rages, the cracks in our health system are clear for all to see. The reactive and last-minute management of this pandemic must end. There is no separate trajectory for Ontario’s economy while this virus ravages the people of this province and threatens to bring our health system to its knees. Ontarians desperately need the help of the nursing profession to succeed in fighting Omicron. As the premier of this province, it is on you to bring hope back to our nursing profession.

Welcome to my Wednesday, January 12 blog. Read my message as we begin 2022 amid a fifth wave. This week we share: 1) A health system on the verge of total collapse – RNAO’s open letter to Premier Doug Ford; 2) RNAO’s continuing media profile for December 2021; and 3) Canada’s failure to respond with foresight when it comes to COVID-19. Scroll down for several upcoming RNAO webinars in January.

Three RNAO media releases during the last week addressed the current pandemic context in Ontario and the responses from government. 1. RNAO’s media conference - Nursing crisis risks patient safety and health of Ontarians. 2. Response to the Ontario government Dec. 15 announcement - RNAO welcomes plan to move up eligibility dates for third doses; urges additional public health measures. 3. Response to Ontario public health measures announced Dec. 17 - RNAO says government’s new measures essential but not enough to blunt Omicron’s force.

Welcome to my Tuesday, December 21 blog. Read my message to wrap 2021 and welcome a healthy, better and brighter 2022. This week we share: In three media releases, RNAO addresses the government’s response to the nursing crisis, Omicrom-led wave and concerns about health-system collapse. Scroll down for several upcoming RNAO webinars in January.