Transit Shelter Ads Appear in Thunder Bay as Phase II of ONA's 'Value the
Invaluable' Campaign Begins

THUNDER BAY, ON, Dec. 2 /CNW/ - A nurse's autographed uniform and a "Most Valuable Player" sports collector card with the image of a nurse are the centrepieces of phase two of a new Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) ad campaign, urging Ontario residents to value the priceless health care skills, leadership and knowledge that registered nurses (RNs) bring to the system.

The images are appearing in a series of transit shelter ads located in cities across the province today. The ads ask people to imagine what if RNs were valued as much as pro athletes are - and note that dollar for dollar, RNs improve the lives of people more than almost anyone.

"With the budget cutting exercises and focus on value for money in the province right now, we can't let it be forgotten what an incredible value RNs are for our money," says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Study after study has shown that patients recover better and more quickly - and have a lower readmission rate - when there are more RNs to care for them. Their skills save lives and save the system money."

The transit shelter ads complement ONA's radio ads that debuted in 22 cities last week. The radio ads feature "voice of the Maple Leafs" announcer Joe Bowen doing a play-by-play of a few moments in the shift of an RN and a "post-shift" interview. Listeners are also asked to value their nurses.

Haslam-Stroud says the ads are an important reminder for members as well. "Ontario RNs have been portrayed by health care leaders as simply another expenditure on a spreadsheet. They've seen patient care threatened as thousands of their colleagues' positions were cut to balance budgets," she says. "We want our members to celebrate the skills, leadership and knowledge that nurses bring to health care and remember that they are health care leaders."

Transit shelter ads are located in 12 cities, and on-line ads are appearing on selected websites and Facebook.

ONA is the union representing 55,000 front-line RNs and allied health professionals and more than 12,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.

For further information:

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