CEO Outlook: Working for nurses, working for Canadians

As a new year begins, I am excited about the opportunities to show you that CNA is your strong national association through which you can support each other and speak with a powerful, unified voice.

The results from our member and nursing student surveys have given us great insight into your wants, needs and expectations, which will be reflected in our work. Here’s a sampling of our plans for 2013:

The recommendations from CNA’s independent National Expert Commission will be front and centre in much of our work. If you haven’t yet, I urge you to read A Nursing Call to Action, expertcommission.cna-aiic.ca, a report that contains forward-thinking ideas and nursing-led solutions to today’s health-care challenges. You can get even more insight by checking out our special Globe and Mail feature, globeandmail.com/canadiannurses.

We’ll also shine the spotlight on you, Canada’s RNs. We plan to unveil a dynamic campaign that promotes the remarkable depth and breadth of RNs and we’ll work to raise the profile of clinical nurse specialists. We’re also bringing our Nurse Practitioners: It’s About Time! campaign to new jurisdictions.

CNA’s efforts to influence health policy will continue in full force through initiatives like our participation in the health-care innovation working group, led by the provincial/territorial premiers.

We have plans to celebrate 30 fantastic nurses by honouring them with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals.

We’ll support CNA past president Judith Shamian in her bid to be president of the International Council of Nurses.

And in June, CNA and our partners at the National Health Leadership Conference will bring you the first-ever nursing leadership stream.

2013 will be action-packed… to get the most out of it, remember to read the Commission’s report!

Rachel Bard, RN, M.A.Ed.
ceo-dg@cna-aiic.ca