Nurses Launch Ad Campaign in Barrie: Urge the province to value quality nursing care

BARRIE, ON, April 23, 2012 /CNW/ - In a bid to help Ontarians to value how they view public-sector nurses who provide them and their loved ones with high-quality health care, the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is launching an ad campaign today in communities across the province, including Barrie.

"It's vital that Ontarians recognize the value we receive from Ontario nurses," said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "The skills, experience and dedication our nurses bring to health care are priceless as we all focus on spending health care dollars as wisely as possible."

The radio ad features a hockey play-by-play analogy - coinciding with the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs and leading into National Nursing Week - in a lighthearted ad that demonstrates the value of what nurses do each and every day. The ad urges Ontarians to value nurses the way we value pro athletes and is also available on ONA's website by clicking on the link below and scrolling down to "radio ads" (http://www.ona.org/political_action/rns_the_mvp_in_health_care.html).

"Nurses are the heroes of health care," says Haslam-Stroud. "During these tough times, nurses are often referred to as a cost to the system, not as the answer to providing high-quality health care on tight budgets that research has shown they are. Nurses truly should be valued as the professionals they are."

The ads will air on radio stations across Ontario beginning today. In Barrie, the ads will air on CIQB FM, CKMB FM and CFJB FM.

In addition, during Nursing Week (May 6 to 12), many ONA Locals will air a second radio ad that features children trading collector cards - of nurses.

"Patients don't regain their health without the front-line care nurses in this province provide," says Haslam-Stroud. "This is the time to recognize that we need nurses' skills and remember that they're an asset to every community."

ONA is the union representing 59,000 front-line RNs and allied health professionals and more than 13,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.

Ontario Nurses' Association

Sheree Bond    
[phone], ext. 2430; cell: [phone] 
[email protected]

Melanie Levenson   
[phone], ext. 2369
[email protected]