Although summer is usually a time for relaxation, the past few months at CNA have been anything but! Staff and board members moved full speed ahead on priority issues for Canada’s RNs.

As RNs from across the country gather to attend our convention and annual meeting in Halifax, there is a growing sense of excitement within the nursing community. Change is in the air. Renewal and regeneration are imminent.

As we celebrate National Nursing Week, this is a good opportunity for nurses across the country to reflect upon the social contract that we have made with Canadians to act in the public interest. Following the example of Florence Nightingale, we have collectively taken on a solemn duty not only to speak out, but also to act in safeguarding the health of Canadians and in defending the health system on which all of us rely.

You will find an article in Access that outlines three separate consultation exercises CNA conducted with its members, with the public and with a number of stakeholders. As CEO of CNA, I am dedicated to ensuring that the organization is responsive to members’ needs and to what they view as priorities for the health system. Active listening continues to be an important part of my commitment.

This piece of folk wisdom should be top of mind for decision-makers who seek to reform our health system. To safeguard its long-term sustainability, we must collectively engage in positive transformations that address the issues of access, quality, cost-effectiveness and accountability. One of the soundest approaches is to help people avoid getting sick in the first place.