Media Advisory: Health-care professionals mark Nursing Week with a commitment to better patient care

TORONTO, May 3, 2012 /CNW/ - The knowledge of nurses and their focus on evidence-based practice will be highlighted at a series of media conferences during Nursing Week (May 7-13).

RNs representing health-care facilities that have adopted internationally recognized clinical best practice guidelines will demonstrate how they deliver superior patient care and support their organizations to become leaders in clinical excellence.

The guidelines (or BPGs) are tools developed by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO). Forty-seven BPGs have been developed to date, including guidelines that focus on managing pain, preventing falls, preventing childhood obesity, breastfeeding and wound care. The association also has guidelines for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

"These nurses and their organizations stand out as leaders in clinical practice. Patients and their families deserve to hear about the great work and commitment they have in making our health system more patient-centred, more responsive, and more efficient," says Rhonda Seidman-Carlson, President of RNAO.

"We're extremely proud of these organizations and their support for nurses to elevate patient care to an even higher level of excellence," says Doris Grinspun, RNAO's Chief Executive Officer. "Our evidence-based tools have been adopted by organizations throughout Ontario and around the globe that are interested in improving organizational performance."

Nurses from health-care organizations in Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor will take part in media conferences during Nursing Week:

TORONTO: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road (1^st floor Resource Centre) Monday, May 7, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

OTTAWA: Hôpital Montfort, 713 Montreal Road (Auditorium) Wednesday, May 9, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

WINDSOR: Windsor Essex Community Health Centre - Sandwich Community Health, 749 Felix Avenue Thursday, May 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines Program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and was launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across a wide range of health-care settings. Health-care facilities that successfully implement multiple guidelines receive special recognition from RNAO as Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO). The three organizations listed above are among 50 BPSOs throughout Ontario and Quebec that have made a commitment to quality and evidence in their daily practice.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.

For more information about RNAO, visit www.RNAO.ca
You can also check out our Facebook page at www.RNAO.org/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RNAO.

To arrange an interview with a nurse, or for more information, please contact:

Marion Zych
Director of Communications
RNAO
416-408-5605 (office)
647-406-5605 (cellular)