Ontario Nurses' Association Celebrates Nursing Week 2016

"We are Ontario's nurses. Nurses know."

TORONTO, May 6, 2016 /CNW/ - More than 60,000 front-line registered nurses, nurse practitioners and registered practical nurses as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates, will celebrate Nursing Week 2016 from May 9 to 16.

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) members are proud of their valued profession, their skills and their role as skilled care providers and patient advocates. ONA members have chosen the theme, "We are Ontario's nurses. Nurses know." Throughout the week, ONA members will celebrate their highly educated and skilled profession and the pivotal role they play in the health-care system.

"ONA members know how valuable their care is in ensuring patients have the best possible health outcomes," said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "That makes us more determined than ever to fight the erosion of RN care in our hospitals, being announced across the province as hospital CEOs cut the front lines to balance the bottom line. In some parts of the province, our members are using their roles as patient advocates to take the fight for safe, quality care to Queen's Park. We know the value of proper RN staffing cannot be overstated.

"RN care results in a lower incidence of patient morbidity (complications) and mortality (death), and saves the system money in the long-term. As we celebrate Nursing Week, ONA and its members have vowed to continue to advocate for safe, quality patient care. Our patients, and our members, deserve no less."

Nursing Week is marked worldwide to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale on May 12. ONA Bargaining Units in hospitals, long-term care, public health, the community, clinics and industry will mark the week with a diverse array of events. ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud and ONA First Vice-President Vicki McKenna, RN, will travel the province to make site visits to ONA members.

ONA is the union representing 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in hospitals, long-term care, the community, public health, clinics and industry.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Ontario Nurses' Association: Sheree Bond, [phone], ext. 2430, cell: [phone], [email protected]; Melanie Levenson, [phone], ext. 2369, [email protected]