Media Advisory: Nurses demonstrate how using the latest research in their everyday practice is improving patient health

TORONTO, May 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Improving patient care by using research in everyday nursing practice is the focus of a series of media conferences being held to celebrate Nursing Week (May 12-18).

Nurses will demonstrate how best practice guidelines (BPG) are helping enrich the care they provide to patients on a daily basis. BPGs are clinical tools developed by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO). Fifty guidelines have been developed to date on topics ranging from smoking cessation and breastfeeding to the prevention of childhood obesity and wound care. The association also has guidelines for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

"These nurses are leaders in their practice. Patients and their families deserve to hear about the amazing work they are doing in their organizations, and how they are making sure our health system becomes more patient-centred and more responsive," says Vanessa Burkoski, president of RNAO and vice-president/chief nursing executive of quality, patient safety and professional scholarly practice at London Health Sciences Centre.

"Nurses who use RNAO's guidelines are elevating patient care to a higher level of excellence," says Doris Grinspun, RNAO's chief executive officer, adding "health organizations that want to improve their performance recognize the important role these guidelines play in their health facilities, and become champions for their implementation."

Nurses from health-care organizations in Owen Sound, Guelph and London taking part in media conferences during Nursing Week 2014 include:

		OWEN SOUND: Grey Bruce Health Unit, 101 17^th Street East, Owen Sound, ON (Atrium) Thursday, May 8, from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
		GUELPH: Guelph General Hospital, 115 Delhi Street, Guelph, ON (Auditorium) Monday, May 12, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
		LONDON: Victoria Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East Zone B Atrium, London, ON (1^st floor North Tower) Thursday, May 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The three health-care organizations taking part in the Nursing Week media conferences are known as Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO) for their commitment to fostering quality care environments by adopting BPGs. They are among more than 70 BPSOs representing 330 health sites around the world. 

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. The guidelines developed to date are a substantial contribution towards building excellence in Ontario's health system. They are available to nurses and other health professionals across Canada and abroad. To learn more about RNAO's Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Program or to view these resources, please visit www.RNAO.ca/bpg

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.

SOURCE: Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

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), [email protected]; Drew Ferguson, Public/Media Relations Co-ordinator, Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, 519-376-9420 ext. 1269, Blackberry: 519-377-5242, [email protected]; Perry Hagerman, Senior Communications Specialist, Guelph General Hospital, 519-837-6440 ext. 2774, [email protected]; Sarah Muto, Communications Consultant, London Health Sciences Centre, 519-685-8500 ext. 77062, [email protected]