RNAO’s media release on March 24 responded to the presentation of the Ontario budget in the legislature. RNAO is disappointed the government is failing to make the investments desperately needed to help nurses in the fight against COVID-19 and to sustain the nursing workforce after the pandemic.

Close to 200 registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing students, politicians and members of the public joined RNAO on Feb. 25. for the 21st Queen’s Park Day. As one of RNAO’s annual signature political action events, this year’s iteration looked a bit different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

RNAO has been a leading voice since the end of the first wave in summer 2020 calling on the Ontario government to engage measures to pre-empt and prevent the unavoidable second wave in the fall. We provide an update on the current context and RNAO's reaction to the latest measures implemented in the province. RNAO describes these measures as not enough, too little, too late and – since we are in an intensifying tragedy – calculated recklessness.

RNCareers.ca, RNAO’s official career site since 2005, is the largest in Ontario. The site hosts positions for nurse practitioners (NPs), registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs), personal support workers (PSWs), and other health professionals in clinical and non-clinical roles across all health-care sectors.

Since our last update on November’s media activity, RNAO has continued its extraordinary and ongoing commitment to speaking out on pressing issues that impact the public during this pandemic.

RNAO says the government is failing Ontarians at a crucial moment when COVID-19 runs rampant. Dramatic and immediate action is required. The government’s announcement of a province-wide lockdown comes very late and is further endangering lives and the health-care system by waiting until Dec. 26 to enact the measures.

RNAO reminds both employers and healthcare workers who have the ability to offer their availability at this urgent time of RNCareers, the largest employment website in Ontario for NPs, RNs, RPNs, PSWs and other health professionals. RNCareers is a 24x7 service.

RNAO issued a media release on December 18 in response to the Ontario government’s announcement of its long-term care staffing plan. RNAO welcomes the release of the government’s long-term care (LTC) staffing plan, but the minister’s staffing plan falls short on immediate action and specifics.

RNAO webinar for anyone across Canada who cares about seniors and wants to join forces to inspire our provincial, territorial and the federal governments to establish national standards for long-term care and to take additional action to support people staying in their homes longer. 

RNAO and others remains gravely concerned by the late and insufficient efforts to control the second pandemic wave, which is once again overwhelming long term care (LTC) institutions, in particular nursing homes across the province, adding anguish to residents, staff and the families of both. This “too little, too late approach” continues to disadvantage populations compromised by their social conditions.