Our plea for action to safeguard the safety of residents in LTC continues. We have all been in shock at the tragedy that has befallen so many of our elders due to systemic neglect and faulty policies that have been going for too long. RNAO issued last week a new report summarizing two decades of reports, inquiry and commission – and calling on the government to take action, not engage in more study and deliberation.

Colleagues, on Tuesday I wrote that I can’t let go of the image of George Floyd gasping for air and pleading for his life – “I can’t breathe.” And as I said, that image evokes the immense brutality, insanity and terror brought about by anti-Black racism and all forms of systemic racism in our midst. RNAO released a statement that I am reproducing in full below. I am also encouraging our readers to take action and vocally speak this weekend, and always, against anti-Black racism and all forms of hate, discrimination, prejudice and violence.

The following is an article that a group of us co-authored, published in the Toronto Star on May 29. As we mobilize all the health care resources we can to combat COVID-19, we cannot take our eyes off the overdose crisis. The improved health and fiscal savings, which have been demonstrated through wraparound safer drug supply programs, cannot be ignored.

Press release: RNAO is calling on the government to take immediate and concrete action to address the long-standing shortfalls in long-term care (LTC) homes made blatantly evident in the Canadian Armed Forces’ report. Rather than only relying on a future commission, the immediate step is to start implementing the recommendations from past inquiries and commissions, starting with the report on the adequacy of regulated staffing in LTC due on July 31. This is a requirement in the 2019 recommendations of The Long-Term Care Homes Public Inquiry.

This is the RNAO press release in response to the government’s announcement of an independent commission into Ontario's long-term care system.

As of Tuesday, May 19, 2020, RNAO’s VIANurse program will provide staffing assistance only to health facilities with active COVID-19 outbreaks. Health organizations – in all sectors – not facing a COVID-19 outbreak, but looking to fulfill their ongoing staffing needs in nursing and other health professions, are asked to advertise as always in RNAO’s job board, RNCareers.ca

Our Nursing Week activities have been in full swing! All events this year emphasized the critical role of nurses and health professions during COVID-19. Here is a recap of our virtual activities so far.

Today we spotlight the valuable work of the Chiefs of Ontario in supporting the needs of First Nations persons and communities during this pandemic to prevent and/or delay the spread of COVID-19. On behalf of RNAO, we tremendously appreciate the work of Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Carmen Jones (Director of Health) and their teams for contributing to the article that follows. RNAO joins in partnership with Ontario Chiefs in urging governments and others to immediately heed their call!