RNAO and Investén-isciii unveil agreement to share nursing expertise

TORONTO, Aug. 12 /CNW/ - Ontario nurses are celebrating a partnership that will allow them to share their knowledge and expertise with Spanish speaking nurses to improve patient outcomes for millions of people in countries around the world.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Unidad de coordinaciôn y desarrollo de la Investigaciôn en Enfermeria (Investén-isciii) - a Ministry of Science and Innovation Research Institution in Spain - announced today they are collaborating to translate RNAO's best practice guidelines (BPGs) into Spanish.

The guidelines are evidence-based tools nurses use in their everyday practice to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Forty-two BPGs have been developed to date, including ones focused on health promotion such as breastfeeding, prevention of child obesity, and reducing falls in older persons. Guidelines have also been developed in the area of chronic disease management such as diabetes. And there are BPGs to support nurses working with patients who are ill with various conditions, such as hypertension and asthma.

"This is a very important and proud day for Ontario's nursing community," says RNAO's Executive Director Doris Grinspun, who launched RNAO's program in 1999. "We have worked very hard at developing expertise and are fortunate to count on the Ontario government's support to develop these evidence-based practice guidelines. Now, thanks to the Spanish government, which is translating these tools, millions of people around the world - who receive care from Spanish speaking nurses - will make our success theirs," adds Grinspun. The translated guidelines will be available free of charge on RNAO's and Investén-isciii's websites.

Teresa Moreno, Chief Executive Officer of Investén-isciii says the agreement is an additional step towards enriching the nursing profession in her country. "We are grateful for this opportunity because it will provide nurses in Spain with the most up-to-date evidence to support their practice and optimize patients' outcomes."

The formal agreement came about after an introductory meeting facilitated by the University of Toronto's School of Nursing. "I am delighted that the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing has been able to facilitate this wonderful collaboration between the RNAO and the Ministry of Health and Social Policy in Spain," says Dean Sioban Nelson. "The project will enable millions of nurses from around the world to have access to these vital tools to enhance their practice and improve patient outcomes. This is a great day for international nursing partnerships," adds Dean Nelson.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) 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.

The International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Program (IABPG) is a signature program of RNAO focused on the development, dissemination, implementation and evaluation of clinical and healthy work environment best practices. The program was launched in 1999 with multi-year funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The guidelines are a substantive contribution towards building excellence in Ontario's health-care system. They are available at no cost to nurses, other health-care professionals and organizations across Canada and abroad. To learn more about RNAO's Nursing Best Guidelines Program or to view these resources, please visit www.rnao.org/bestpractices.

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

For further information: To arrange an interview with Dr. Grinspun and Dr. Moreno please contact: Marion Zych, Director of Communications, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), 158 Pearl Street, Toronto, ON, 416-408-5605 (office), 647-406-5605 (cellular)