RNAO's Proud Past

Highlights of the Association’s 85 years of accomplishments are:
1894

The first alumnae association is founded at Toronto General Hospital.

1896

The Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada are formed.

1899

The International Council of Nurses, the oldest international organization of professional women in the world, with headquarters in London, England was formed.

1901

A number of Ontario nurses attend the International Council of Nurses
in Buffalo, New York. This experience stimulates interest in
creating a provincial organization.

1904

The Graduate Nurses' Association of Ontario (GNAO) is formed from the
alumni groups of various schools of nursing in Ontario. The GNAO is
the forerunner of RNAO and its mandate is to encourage professional
development in nurses.

1922

Through the efforts of the Graduate Nurses' Association of Ontario, a Nurses
Registration Act was passed by the Ontario Provincial Government.

1925

The Ontario association's name was changed under the Ontario Companies Act, to be known
as the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO).

1930

RNAO committee formed to create a loan fund (now known as the Permanent
Education Fund) to assist members in financing post-basic courses in nursing.

1935

RNAO is instrumental in developing standards for nursing education and
practice and subsequently closes 37 small schools of nursing in
Ontario that do not meet with their requirements. The Association
protects the title “registered nurse” by making registration
mandatory for its use.

1945

The RNAO News Bulletin instituted to provide closer communications between the Association and its
members on provincial nursing activities and interests and to stimulate participation in nursing affairs.

1948

RNAO sponsored a group disability insurance plan, made
available to all practicing members of the Association.

1949

RNAO appointed a legal adviser on a retainer basis to obtain legal advice
for Association members on request.

1951

The Nurses Registration Act, 1951, culmination of many years of effort
and a milestone in the history of nursing in Ontario was passed,
giving the Association responsibility for making regulations
regarding standards of admission to schools of nursing; courses of
study in these schools; setting examinations for registration, and
issuing, renewing and cancelling certificates of registration.

1956

At an RNAO annual meeting a decision was made to investigate the
feasibility of collective bargaining for the nursing profession in
Ontario. A program of voluntary negotiation with employers was
adopted, with the ultimate purpose of seeking legislation providing
for compulsory arbitration if necessary.

Construction commenced on an RNAO-owned provincial office building in Toronto.
The new building was occupied in November.

1957

In response to membership requests, RNAO applied for exemption from the
terms of the Ontario Labour Relations Act. Such exemption, if
granted, meant that nurses could not be forced, as a condition of
employment, to join trade and labour unions. The report of the
Select Committee of the Legislature recommended that RNAO and other
recognized professional associations be excluded from the terms of
the Act.

1960

RNAO, at the request of the Ontario Ministry of Health, studied the
feasibility and advisability of formation of a College of Nurses in
Ontario, a body to be authorized by the government to administer a
statute or act respecting nurses and to implement its terms.

1963

The Nurses Act, 1961-62, proclaimed in January 1963, established the
College of Nurses of Ontario. With this change in legislation,
registration became the responsibility of the College rather than
RNAO. Membership in RNAO was at an all-time high of 32,000 members,
with some 300 working on provincial standing and special committees.

The concept of bringing basic nursing diploma programs within the
general framework of education was evident in many nursing briefs
presented to the Royal Commission on Health Services. RNAO initiated
a study on conducting a nursing diploma program in the Ryerson
Institute of Technology. The report of the study was accepted and
approval was given to proceed with an experimental program to be
evaluated by RNAO in 5 years.

1964

Following report of a study by Dr. John Crispo on the feasibility of
collective bargaining and compulsory arbitration, the annual meeting
passed a resolution authorizing the board of directors to secure
special legislation which would give registered nurses, through
RNAO, the right to bargain collectively with their employers and to
submit items in dispute to binding arbitration.

1965

Draft legislation for collective bargaining for nurses was presented in
the form of a brief to government. When it appeared obvious that the government
was not going to act on proposed legislation, membership endorsed
the principle that collective bargaining be initiated in any way
deemed advisable by the nurses involved. The program of collective
bargaining under the Labour Relations Act was commenced.

RNAO strongly urged The Canadian Nurse to
refrain from accepting advertisements from the Canadian Armed Forces
while they continued to discriminate against men in nursing.
The traditional pattern of diploma programs in nursing was challenged by
the Minister of Health when he announced that the annual number of
graduates was to be doubled and that curricula would be designed to
accommodate a program conducted within a two-year period.

RNAO endorsed development of nursing diploma programs in colleges of
applied arts and technology.

1967

To commemorate Canada's centennial, the Association established the
category of "member emeritus" which granted the privileges
of regular membership for life after 40 consecutive years of
membership in RNAO.

1970

Members were given the option of enrolling in RNAO-sponsored professional
liability (malpractice) insurance plan.

Through negotiation, RNAO's testing service became the property of CNA, thus
forming the nucleus of national testing service.

1972

The RNAO Foundation was incorporated, providing a unique opportunity for
the public and nurses to contribute funds to support research and
other projects to promote nursing practice.

1973

RNAO supported the establishment of a central vehicle for collective bargaining for
nurses, and endorsed the formation of the Ontario Nurses’
Association (ONA).

Proposals for the Health Disciplines Act were tabled in the Legislature.
The Statement on Nurse Midwifery was accepted at the annual meeting,
setting the stage for RNAO promotion of this role.

1974

The Ontario Nurses’ Association was certified by the Labour
Relations Board. RNAO transferred activities related to collective
bargaining to ONA.

1975

Out of the Past, An Exciting Future was the theme for the 50th Anniversary. It was celebrated by
publication of Nurse by Eric Handbury:
RNAO recognized affiliated groups - Community Mental Health Nurses'
Association, and Ontario Nurse-Midwives Association.

1976

RNAO approved a one-year pilot project to collect data to serve as a
basis for development of a possible structure for RNAO interest
groups. The aim was to develop a "mechanism" whereby
groups could be "attached" to the Association.

RNAO hosted CNA biennial meeting in Toronto.

1979

As a result of a study by RNAO of its image, role,
and organization, the structure of RNAO was revised through bylaw
changes at the Annual Meeting – creating a smaller board of
directors with 12 Regional Representatives, 5 Members-At-Large,
President and President-Elect; and the creation of an Assembly of
Presidents.

Formal recognition was given to Interest Groups within RNAO structure. Six
had developed during the extended pilot project.

RNAO Board of Directors adopted the position that "baccalaureate
nursing preparation" be the entry level to the practice of
nursing as a registered nurse.

RNAO continued to meet quarterly with the Minister of Health. Some RNAO
documents presented included: RNAO Position Paper on Health Care
Costs; RNAO Statement on the Role of the Registered Nurse in the
Operating Room; Standards for the Organization and Administration of
the Nursing Department, Public Health Units; RNAO Position Paper on
Continuing Education for Registered Nurses.

1983

On May 2, RNAO welcomed 29,500 ONA colleagues into the Association for
a total membership of 43,000.

RNAO applied for and was granted standing at the Grange Inquiry.

1984

RNAO provided a nursing presence throughout Phases I and II of the Grange
Inquiry hearings.

RNAO submitted a brief and made an oral presentation to the Bovey
Commission on the Future Development of Universities of Ontario.

1985

The Grange Report was released on January 3, 1985. After its release,
RNAO held a large news conference.

1986

The voluntary Legal Assistance Program (LAP) is established by RNAO to
assist nurses with certain legal problems that may arise in
work-related circumstances.

1987

ONA withdrew from group membership in RNAO on October 31.

1988

RNAO's President was appointed to the Premier's Council on Health Strategy.

1989

The Minister of Health announced amendments to Regulation 518/88 of the
Public Hospitals Act, an Act that enabled nurses to participate in decision-making related to
administrative, financial, operational and planning matters in the
hospital. RNAO had been lobbying for these changes for over eight
years.

1990

Health Professions Regulations Act (HPRA) was introduced into the
legislature for first reading in the spring of 1990. RNAO supports
the egalitarian principles of this Act and is concerned about the
Nursing Act. RNAO lobbied government through central office and
local activities to reintroduce HPRA after the September 1990
elections. RNAO had been actively working on this issue for 10 years.

1993

Three-year Strategic Plan approved by the Board.

1994

The Lincoln Report on Communications was approved by the Board and is
used as a model for communications within the organization.

1995

RNAO celebrates its 70th Anniversary and, on May 23, RNAO moves to the Provincial Office at
438 University Avenue, in the heart of downtown Toronto.

1996

A year of many exciting new initiatives with excellent outcomes, including:

Comprehensive Strategic Directions and Operational Plan 1996-1998.

Candlelight vigil at Queen’s Park and Parliament
Hill in Ottawa to educate the public regarding the erosion of
Medicare and the role of Registered Nurses - over 800 nurses and
seniors in attendance.

Membership closed at 13,177 -- the first major increase since ONA withdrew in 1987.

1997

The Nursing Act was amended by the Expanded Nursing Services for Patients Act
providing the framework for regulating the RN Extended Class [RN (EC)].

RNAO launches public advocacy campaign to put a human face to health care restructuring.

High levels of external representation at Ministry of Health and other external committees.

RNAO is highly profiled politically: 11 meetings with the Minister of
Health, and many with other key stakeholders.

Extensive media coverage.

Membership closed at 13,700.

Budget closed with positive variance for the first time in nine years.

1998

Report entitled: Putting Out the Health Care Fire submitted to Premier Mike Harris at March 4th meeting with RNAO.

Minister Witmer announced Provincial Nursing Task Force at RNAO’s Annual General Meeting. Membership closed at 13,850 and a positive budget variance presented to the AGM.

RNAO Centre for Professional Development launched.

1999

CNO’s Council unanimously passed new competencies for registered nurses
and requirement of BScN as entry to practice for new RNs starting 2005.

Provincial Nursing Task Force report released, entitled: Good Nursing, Good Health: An Investment for the 21st Century.

Government announces full endorsement of Nursing Task Force recommendations.

Minister Witmer announces $500,000 funding to RNAO’s Centre for
Professional Development [name changed in 2001, to Centre for
Professional Nursing Excellence] to lead, in collaboration with
RPNAO, a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan for the
Province.

Workplace Liaison Program launched with two pilot sites.

Membership closes at 14,250. Once again, a healthy budget is presented to the
Assembly.

2000

The Association celebrates its 75th Anniversary.

Announcement made by Minister of Health Elizabeth Witmer,
and Dianne Cunningham, Minister of Training, Colleges and
Universities that, beginning in 2005 a baccalaureate degree would be
the educational requirement for registered nurses practising in
Ontario.

RNAO focuses on the preservation of the Canada Health Act and joins
forces with nursing organizations across the province to call for a
moratorium on the privatization of health care in Ontario.

RNAO spearheads the formation of the Coalition for Primary Health Care to
fully endorse the primary health care strategy from the Health
Services Restructuring Commission. Global funding and
inter-disciplinary services with nursing as an entry point are
central to the model.

RNAO lobbies for and welcomes the announcement of the new Chief Nursing
Officer position created by the provincial government as part of its
senior management team.

RNAO, in collaboration with RPNAO, submits the Report entitled: ‘Ensuring
The Care Will be There: Report on Nursing Recruitment and Retention in Ontario’
to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, which will drive provincial recruitment and retention efforts.

RNAO is assigned by the Ministry of Health to lead a major project on the
development, implementation and evaluation of Nursing Best Practice
Guidelines for the Province of Ontario.

RNAO is assigned by the Ministry of Health to lead the Advanced Clinical
Fellowships and Training Fellowships for registered nurses in the
Province.

RNAO celebrates Nursing Week with subway posters, public service
announcements, and a great Nursing Week special section in the
Toronto Star.

The Association launches “Take your MPP to Work Campaign”, which
allows political leaders to see and hear first-hand from the nurses
who care for people in many different ways in many different places.

Membership closes at 14,748!

2001

RNAO issues the report entitled: Earning Their Return: When and Why Ontario RNs Left Canada, and What Will Bring Them Back, which is the first of its kind in Canada.

RNAO, in collaboration with RPNAO, led a number of recruitment and
retention initiatives, focused specifically on two fronts:
advocating for policy changes to stabilize and secure a robust
nursing workforce, and marketing nursing as an exciting career
choice to young people.

New ONA Volume Group Membership category instituted allowing individual
ONA members to join RNAO at a discounted group rate.

The Nursing Best Practice Guidelines program,
along with the Centre for Professional Excellence, organized the
first International Best Practice Guidelines conference, held in
Toronto. The title of the conference is: Best Practice Guidelines: Shaping the Future of Nursing. Issues in
Development, Implementation, Evaluation and Dissemination.

Membership numbers continue to grow. Membership at year-end, October 31:
16,556! – an outstanding 14% increase over the previous year.

2002

RNAO’s Workplace Liaison Program expands to include over 180 workplace
liaisons in workplaces and study places throughout the province.

RNAO and RPNAO launch a career-awareness campaign entitled “Team up with Nursing”
to promote nursing as a top career choice for students, and to
attract potential nurses to the profession. The campaign includes a
fast- paced, 17 minute video introducing a challenging, exciting
profession that offers many rewarding career opportunities; a
step-by-step guide to help nurses prepare for in-class
presentations; a comprehensive teacher’s resource kit to help
teachers prepare for the in-class session with a local nursing
professional, and brochures targeted to elementary and high school
students.

In conjunction with the above campaign, the Nursing Now web site is
launched giving detailed information about nursing today at
www.NursingNow.org

The Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Project launches its first four
guidelines, all related to care for the elderly, at RNAO’s
international conference: Nursing Best Practice Guidelines: Shaping the Future of Nursing.

RNAO hosts Canadian Nurses Association’s biennial meeting in Toronto.

RNAO launches “Ask an RN”, a web site feature to provide answers to
health-care issues that are provoking or puzzling the public. This
initiative gives members of the public an opportunity to pose
questions that may emerge from their everyday experiences regarding
the state of our health-care system.

RNAO’s “Ask an MPP” web site feature is launched. This feature includes
commentary from the PC leadership candidates and leaders of
Ontario’s official opposition parties on questions asked about
their policies on nursing and health care.

RNAO launches a public awareness campaign entitled “Speak out Ontario”,
the intent of which is to raise the level of public debate and
support for a publicly-funded, universally accessible, not-for-profit health care system.

Nursing Week profiles nurses and RNAO. Activities occurred throughout the
province. Some highlights include subway posters in TTC subway cars,
buses, LRT and in GO Trains featuring three separate posters headlined “Nurses: Real Heart: Real Smart”,
radio public service announcements, special nursing inserts in the Toronto Star
and the Globe and Mail in their special health-care/nursing sections.

RNAO launches a new web site service to connect Ontario’s health-care
employers with registered nurses. Called RN Careers,
this interactive job board helps registered nurses find the right
job, by posting their resume free of charge. This job board also
helps them search and apply for jobs and choose which employers may
view their credentials.

RNAO’s Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence holds a second
international conference entitled Healthy Workplaces in Action: Towards the Development of Best Practice
Guidelines for Healthy Work Environments, to share strategies and examples of how to improve nurses’
workplaces.

RNAO hosts an international conference and policy think tank highlighting
what other countries offer their senior citizens, entitled “Elder Care: Are We Ready for the Future? The Public, Policy Makers & Caregivers Speak to Caring Realities & Policy Imperatives”

Introduction of the RN Candidate Training Program designed to help nurses gain
the skills they need for political life. Spread over six sessions,
the program features experienced multi-party political consultants,
media trainers and technology and fundraising experts, to provide
useful hands-on advice to nurses committed to running for public
office at the provincial level.

RNAO responds to The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science
and Technology (Kirby Commission) on the final volume of its report
on Canada’s health-care system: Recommendations for Reform. This
report contains some sound proposals to invest in Canadian health
care – though its willingness to expand the use of for-profit
health care is alarming to RNAO.

RNAO endorses the final report of the Romanow Commission, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada. The report proves the superiority of publicly-funded, not-for-profit
health care and reflects the views and values of Canadians and RNAO.

The first annual Nursing Networking Night sponsored by RNAO and
organized by ten RNAO chapters provided the public with the chance
to become better informed about the issues at stake in the current
health-care debate. As part of this initiative, RNAO launched a
public awareness campaign, Medicare, The Canadian Way. The ONLY Way.

The Nursing Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) program launches the Best
Practice Champions Network by inviting interested health care
organizations to nominate key individuals in their organizations to
participate in the network and promote, influence and implement BPGs
in their setting. Those who are nominated are provided with a
two-day orientation workshop and ongoing support to facilitate their
role.

The Nursing Best Practice Guidelines launches an international
collaborative with organizations from the UK, Scotland, Netherlands,
Australia and the US. The first Nursing International Collaborative
in Evidence-based Implementation and Research with Guidelines
(NICEBIRG) was held in Oxford, England.

Membership numbers continue to grow. Membership at October 31 is 17,728.

2003

Provincial Elections year and RNAO is two steps ahead of the game! We release
our pre-election call at Queen’s Park on January 23 and are able
to influence all political parties’ platforms on nursing.

RNAO reschedules its 78th Annual General Meeting from April to September due to the emergence
of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

RNAO plays a central role in supporting the nursing community and nurses
during the SARS outbreak.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) takes the lives of 44 Ontarians;
two of them, nursing colleagues who worked with SARS patients: Nelia
Laroza, 51 years old and Tecla Lin, 57 years old -- RNAO
representatives attended both funerals.

RNAO delivers a formal request to Premier Ernie Eves asking the
Government of Ontario to order an independent commission of inquiry
under the Public Inquires Act into the SARS outbreak. In response,
Premier Eves announces an independent investigation into the
outbreak that falls short of a full public inquiry. The Honourable
Mr. Justice Archie G. Campbell is appointed to head this
investigation.

RNAO is leading, in collaboration with the Registered Practical Nurses of
Ontario (RPNAO), VIANurse. VIANurse is an electronic registry,
maintained confidentially on RNAO's website, of RNs and RPNs who are
willing to be voluntarily
immediately
available
for deployment to an Ontario health care facility which has been
designated by the MOHLTC as on emergency status. The purpose of
VIANurse is to facilitate provision of safe quality care to the
people of Ontario, when additional resources are required in a
health care organization as a result of an emergency situation. The
initiative is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
(MOHLTC).

RNAO releases the result of a survey of Ontario registered nurses working
part-time or casual. The Report entitled Survey of Casual and Part-Time Registered Nurses in Ontario
reveals the number of RNs currently working part-time or casual, the
significant number of RNs who want full-time employment even under
the current working conditions, and the conditions needed to entice
an even larger portion of part-time and casual RNs to full-time
employment.

Seven registered nurses seek office at the Provincial elections covering
all political parties – six of these registered nurses are RNAO members.

The Healthy Work Environments Best Practice Guidelines Project, funded
by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, is an RNAO Centre for
Professional Nursing Excellence project in partnership with Health
Canada, Office of Nursing Policy. This exciting new initiative is
designed to support health care organizations in creating and
sustaining positive environments for nurses through ready access to
evidence-based guidelines. The project will deliver a minimum of
five guidelines over a two-year period.

The RNAO Centre embarks on another innovative approach to learning
through weeklong, residential educational experiences. The first
ever Best Practice Guidelines Summer Institute focusing on Leading and Shaping Clinical Excellence
is held.

Membership numbers continue to grow. Membership at August 31 is now 20,198 -
with two more months to go until year-end.

On September 29, RNAO releases its report: “SARS
Unmasked: Celebrating Resilience, Exposing Vulnerability: A Report
on the Nursing Experience with SARS in Ontario”
to the Commission to Investigate the Introduction and Spread of SARS
in Ontario.

RNAO requests proposals (RFP) for Integrating Nursing Best Practice
Guidelines into Nursing Education Demonstration Projects. A total of
eleven Education Demonstration Projects were selected.

The RNAO-led Nursing Best Practice Guidelines doctoral fellowship
program initiative is launched, in partnership with the Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It aims to develop research
capacity in the evaluation of clinical outcomes, financial and
system outcomes associated with the implementation of RNAO best
practice guidelines.

The Nursing Best Practice Guidelines program releases the guideline
implementation resource: Toolkit: Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines.

The second annual meeting of NICEBIRG was held in Toronto.

The second international conference on BPGs is held, with the title:
Best Practice Guidelines: 2nd International Conference. Championing
Nursing knowledge: Making a Difference in Patient Outcomes.

The first annual Best Practice Summer Institute is held at the
Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston, Ontario.

The NBPG program releases its first set of seven health education fact sheets.

Health Canada announces that they will provide more than $2 million in
funding to projects that address priority issues facing Canada's
nursing workforce. RNAO is granted $800,000 to disseminate nursing
best practice guidelines, encourage their implementation and provide
learning opportunities across the country.

2004

RNAO announces the approval of the seven
Best Practice Guideline Spotlight Organizations. This new project is a
three-year partnership between selected organizations and the RNAO,
sponsored by MOHLTC in support of implementation and evaluation of Best Practice
Guidelines.

The newly announced Preceptorship Project, sponsored by the Ministry of
Health and Long Term Care and led by RNAO, will bring together
various student nurse, staff nurse, manager and educator
stakeholders from all parts of Ontario, in order to develop
resources that will support staff nurses in their preceptorship
roles. The aim of this project is to facilitate quality nursing
education through the preceptorship process.

RNAO celebrates 100 years of organized nursing in the Province at their
79th Annual General Meeting, in recognition of the formation of the
Graduate Nurse Association of Ontario in 1904. Special events
highlighting the contribution of nurses/nursing over the period is
shown through special presentations of archival photos/actions and
displays, presentations/archival documents/uniforms on display.

The Orientation Program for Nurses in Home Health Care was
successfully launched at the RNAO AGM.

The NBPG program is funded by Health Canada to conduct 20 full day
workshops on BPGs across the country, to translate several BPGs into
French, and to fund two Best Practice Spotlight Organizations in
provinces outside of Ontario.

The third annual meeting of NICEBIRG was held in Australia.

The second annual Best Practice Summer Institute is held at the Delawana
Inn, Honey Harbour, Ontario.

Membership numbers continue to grow. Membership at August 31 is 20,475 with two
more months to go until year-end.

2005

In January, RNAO with partner, University of Ottawa, School of Nursing launch
the Nursing Best Practice Research Unit. The NBPRU strives to
promote nursing excellence through the study of the best strategies
to promote the uptake of research results in all aspects of nursing
care and the nursing work environment. The unit has undertaken an
environmental scan, end user study, development of a strategic plan,
an invitation symposium planned for March 2005, and has received
funding for several research projects including a CHSRF funded
program of research on evidence-informed service delivery models.

RNAO purchases a new building at 158 Pearl Street, Toronto (and moves in, October 2006).
CONGRATULATIONS!

RNAO and the University of Ottawa launch the new Best Practice Guideline
Research and Evaluation Unit.

By visiting the new RNAO Knowledge Depot, you will get quick and easy access to
all the information that RNAO has amassed on a wide range of
health-care subjects and issues. RNAO has created this site of
consolidated information to give students, health-care
professionals, researchers, politicians, academics, the media, and
the general public streamlined access to the analysis, research and
knowledge we have generated over the years.

Information is organized under four key themes: Strengthening Medicare; Strengthening Nursing; Promoting
Health and Improving Care. Each of these themes contains the work of RNAO from a policy, media and best practice guidelines perspective. http://www.rnaoknowledgedepot.ca/index.asp

RNAO receives funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to develop a
strategic plan to enhance nursing contribution to innovations in
health care related to electronic applications. Going forward, RNAO
will refer to this as the e-Health Project.

The Communications Department announces
that RNAO launched its (re)newed logo on April 21. The department
has prepared a user’s manual which is available, along with the
files for the improved logo, in the Members Only Section of the RNAO
Web Site. Visit www.rnao.org

On June 14, RNAO releases The 70 per cent Solution
report, which shows that government efforts to increase full-time
work for RNs are starting to pay off, but the goal of having 70% of
all RNs working full time will not be met without more targeted
funding and better working conditions for nurses. RNAO has
distributed the report to its many stakeholders and has received
great feedback.

At the end of November, and to ramp up efforts for the National Day of
Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, RNAO proudly
launches the Woman Abuse: Screening, Identification and Initial Response Best Practice Guideline
(BPG).

The NBPG program releases the implementation resource, Educator’s Resource: Integrating Best
Practice Guidelines.

The fourth annual meeting of NICEBIRG is held in Toronto.

The third annual Best Practice Summer Institute is held at Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston, Ontario.

The third biennial international conference is held, entitled 3rd Biennial International Conference: Best Practice Guidelines: The Key to Knowledge Practice Synergy.

Critical Appraisal and Recommendations to the World Health Organization on their advance
draft Hand Hygiene Guideline.

Membership at the end of the membership year 2004/2005 is 23,757. Amazing numbers!

2006

RNAO’s celebrates its new building and offices in an Open House on January 26. Over
100 RNAO members, politicians and media attend and an historic
picture was taken of RNAO’s current Board of Directors and Past
Presidents, attending the event. Also at this event, government
announces a Retention Trust Fun to be managed by RNAO, ONA and
RPNAO.

RNAO launches a new kit which provided tools to lobby federal and provincial
governments on tobacco legislation and control, and to promote
tobacco control initiatives within the community. It is available on
the RNAO website for downloading.

The Ontario government announce guidelines for the Tuition Support
Program for Nurses (TSPN), which is part of the government's
commitment to provide more families with access to primary health
care, and to support the recruitment and retention of nurses to
rural and remote areas across the province. The program follows on
RNAO’s recommendation Back to Ensuring the Care Will Be There
Report issued in 2000.

On March 30, RNAO holds the Opening Spotlight Organization launch and
professional retreat to announce 12 innovative three-year
partnerships with provincial health-care organizations to implement
and evaluate nursing best practice guidelines. Representatives from
these Spotlight Organizations – staff nurses, advanced practice
nurses, chief nursing officers, CEOs and board members – meet in
Toronto for an opening celebration and professional retreat. Ontario
Health and Long-Term Care Minister, George Smitherman, attends the
event to offer congratulatory remarks.

By April 2006, 3 more BPG’s were developed -- Developing and Sustaining Nursing Leadership guideline;
Interventions for Postpartum Depression guideline;
Nursing Management of Hypertension guideline
(this BPG was created in partnership with the Heart & Stroke Foundation).

RNAO launches its redesigned website at its 81st
AGM on April 28. Resolution #1 is passed by voting delegates at RNAO’s AGM mandating RNAO’s
BOD to conduct province wide consultations regarding RNAO’s
relationship with CNA. RNAO BOD conducts extensive consultations at
the local and specialty levels throughout Ontario during the summer
of 2006. In addition, a comprehensive survey conducted by Innovative
Research was distributed to the members for their feedback. 6,171
members participated in the survey. Full results shared with members
via the Members only Section of RNAO’s website.

Nine Best Practice Spotlight Organizations complete their 3 year
partnership with the RNAO, and a formal designation of BPSO is honoured on the 9 organizations.
A BPSO logo is created and formal certificates of recognition
designed, as the first BPSO is recognized.

Government and Elder Health Coalition (RNAO is the founding member), working
together on a vision for Elder Health in Ontario. The paper,
entitled Seniors and Equity,
was released in the fall. RNAO’s ED Co-Chairs the Coalition and
sits on the government’s task force. Also on Elder Health, RNAO
and the Ontario government partner to deliver the 5th
Annual Invitational Think Tank with the Elder Health Coalition.

On May 8, RNAO issues press release – “Politicians walk a mile in
nurses’ shoes to celebrate Nursing Week 2006”. More than 40
politicians join RNAO members on the job as part of “Take your MPP
to Work”. Politicians visited hospitals, public health units,
community nursing providers, and accompanied RNs on home care
visits.

Nursing Week supplements are published around the province. The following
newspapers published special sections: Globe and Mail; Toronto Star;
National Post; Metro News; Hamilton Spectator; Kitchener-Waterloo
Record; Windsor Star; Owen Sound Sun-Times and Hospital News.

The Telementoring Resource Kit (TMentRKit) completes its last stages of
editing and 500 workbooks containing a CD of appendices were printed
by March 31. This telementoring tool was developed to instruct and
promote mentoring of nurses and nurse practitioners in remote and
rural areas through video conferencing.

RNAO’s Summer Institutes become a hot commodity with our inaugural Creating Healthy Workplaces Summer Institute
held in Haliburton, and the 4th annual Nursing Best Practice Clinical Summer Institute held in
Alliston. These dynamic week-long events give nurses an opportunity to exchange ideas and
obtain knew knowledge to enrich their clinical practice and
strategies for creating and sustaining positive environments for
healthy workplaces.

RNAO signs a contract with the Beijing Nightingale Consultation of
Culture Co. Ltd. (BNCC), to develop educational programs for nurses
in China.

CNA BOD adopted all RNAO’s motions at its September 27-29, 2006 meeting:
- GOAL 2: CNA advocates for public policy that incorporates the principles of
  primary health care (access, interdisciplinary, patient and community
  involvement, health promotion, including determinants of health and
  appropriate technology/roles/models) and respects the principles,
  conditions and spirit of the Canada Health Act.
- CNA BOD also adopted the following strategic directions for 2007 under Goal 2:
- CNA BOD allocated in its November 8-10, 2006 meeting a total budget for Goal
  2 of $1,059,568 as well as 7.28 full time equivalents (FTEs), with
  the explicit intention of pursuing an activist agenda that will
  mobilize nurses across the country.
Membership at the end of the membership year 2005/2006 is 25,807.

2007

On January 9-15, the RNAO ED is a delegate of Premier Dalton McGuinty’s
trade mission to India. During the one-week stay, the ED visited
several health-care facilities and witnessed the respect for RNAO
and its collective work in the areas of policy, political action,
best practice guidelines and communication. Colleagues from nursing
and other disciplines showed a tremendous eagerness to partner with
RNAO, to advance health care and nursing in their own countries and
to learn, as well as share their own expertise.
Nursing Leadership in the eHealth Era
Think Tank held on January 11 with 70 senior nursing leaders in
attendance to identify the importance of nursing leadership and
administrative support for and involvement in eHealth and
informatics, to enhance patient care and systems outcomes across all
sectors. Over 700 Ontario nurses share their views about technology,
information management, nursing and health care through the on-line
Nursing and eHealth survey.

RNAO’s 8th Annual Day at Queen’s Park held on January 25. Poverty, protecting
Medicare, and strengthening the nursing workforce were among the
issues discussed at small group meetings with MPPs and their staff.
The Minister of Health, Leader of the Official Opposition, Leader of
the NDP, and health critics addressed the Assembly and participated
in lively question and answer sessions. There were a record number
of 17 small group meetings with MPPs and political staff.

RNAO joins with community partners in sponsoring Hands-Off!
posters displayed in bus shelters across Toronto throughout January.
The Hands Off! campaign urged the end of the claw back of the National Child
Benefit for families on social assistance.

RNAO writes in February to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) with
its concerns about two recent public statements made by the
President-Elect of the CMA. RNAO was seeking clarification from CMA
[to share with its members] regarding CMA's position on Canada's
universal, single-payer health-care system, and on the marketization
of hospital services.

The HWE BPG Program completes three additional guidelines: Developing and Sustaining Nursing Leadership
and Collaborative Practice Among Nursing Teams; as
well as Professionalism in Nursing.

Two new Healthy Work Environment BPGs are being developed focusing on
‘Preventing Violence in the Workplace’ and ‘Clinical Nursing
Education’.

RNAO receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health
Promotions/Smoke Free Ontario Strategy to disseminate work conducted
on smoking cessation across the province and to support the nurse’s
role in Integrating Smoking Cessation into daily nursing practice.
Outcomes include: French translation of Smoking Cessation BPG and
e-learning, a pocket guide based on the BPG, the Smoking Cessation
website, and a poster which was launched during Nurses Week.

The Best Practice Champions’ Network launched its first educational
videoconference in January - 16 sites logged on to the system with
over 30 Champions participating.

January 26 General Meeting, to hear the results of RNAO’s BOD
province-wide consultation regarding resolution #1, and to vote on
BOD recommendations. All 6 Recommendations were ratified by the
voting delegates.

RNAO provides feedback on the Canadian Nurses’ Association discussion
paper, Toward 2020: Visions for Nursing.

Since the launch of the Nursing Education Initiative reimbursement fund in
March 1999, RNAO has received a total of 93,409 applications for reimbursement
consideration and, to date, 70,478 courses have been approved for funding.

Payroll deduction is now available at 47 workplaces!

Provincial Elections year and RNAO is two steps ahead of the game, again! We
release our pre-election call at Queen’s Park on the first day of
nursing week. All three parties request meetings with us and we work
with all to influence their platforms. RNAO’s Platform, Creating a Healthier Society – RNAO’s Challenge to Ontario’s Political Parties: Building Medicare’s Next Stage,
focuses on public policies aimed at decreasing health inequities. The document is
widely distributed amongst RNAO members, all political leaders and
LHINs.

RNAO partners with SiCKO, Michael Moore’s documentary, and invites provincial
and federal politicians to see SiCKO. This documentary examines the
human costs of the U.S. health-care system. Members engage in movie
nights with their MPs and MPPs and RNAO picks up the tab.

The First Nurse Led Clinic is launched in Sudbury
under the leadership of NPs Marilyn Butcher and Roberta Heale. On
August 30, Ontario Minister of Health & Long Term Care, George
Smitherman attended the official grand opening of the clinic, with
the RNAO ED in attendance. Sudbury celebrated a milestone that will
give 4,500 people in northeastern Ontario better access to health
care. The real winners are the people of Sudbury who will be able to
benefit from the knowledge, skills and compassion of nurse
practitioners working in collaboration with other health-care
professionals. RNAO was critical to this success.

Membership as at October 31, 2007 is 26,791. We have reached another milestone!

2008

RNAO issued an Open Letter to the Premier in February, to urge caution
about inter-provincial and Pan-Canadian trade agreements. Currently,
Ontario is engaged in bilateral trade negotiations with Quebec, as
well as with all other provinces and territories through the Council
of the Federation. The Association does not want Ontario to sign
inter-provincial agreements that will water down health and safety,
promote privatization and deregulation, and threaten the viability
of Medicare.

RNAO is a very active participant of the Health Professions Regulatory
Advisory Council (HPRAC) public hearings across the province, which
examined changes in legislation that will expand the scope of nurse
practitioners and allow them to practice more autonomously. RNAO
members participated in the hearings which were held in Hamilton,
Ottawa, London, Thunder Bay, and Sudbury. The advisory council will
make a formal recommendation to Ontario's Health Minister. RNAO’s
position is that the changes proposed by the College of Nurses of
Ontario would help RNs in the extended class to better serve the
health-care needs of Ontario residents and would enhance public
protection. Some of the proposed changes include being able to
diagnose and order tests both inside and outside the hospital
setting without medical directives, as well as allowing nurses to
treat bone fractures and dislocated joints. The association also
wants to see a model in which RN (ECs) can prescribe openly. Under
the current model, they can only prescribe medications listed by
category. RNAO argues the changes to the Nursing Act would unclog a
system that currently leaves patients waiting and nurses unable to
work to their full scope of practice. The changes, if adopted, would
also enable Ontario to catch up to other provinces such as B.C.,
Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as
the Northwest Territories.

In January the government announced that it was beginning consultations
on a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides. RNAO has been actively
advocating on this issue since 2000. RNAO asked for this legislation
in its pre-election platform.

In January RNAO issued an action alert to Hamilton-area members
encouraging them to attend a rally for home care nurses and workers,
held on January 16. 1,500 members of the public, including many
nurses and other health professionals, attended the rally and the
vent was highly discussed in the local media. RNAO was also in
dialogue with senior government officials to encourage an immediate
and indefinite moratorium in Hamilton and the rest of the province.
Minister Smitherman announced a ban on competitive bidding in
Hamilton on January 23. RNAO issued an action alert to all members
to write to Minister Smitherman and urge him to extend the ban on
competitive bidding in Hamilton, across the province. On January 28,
Minister Smitherman placed a province-wide moratorium on competitive
bidding in home care. RNAO has been actively advocating for an end
to competitive bidding since its inception a decade ago.

In February RNAO issued an Open Letter to the Premier to urge caution
about inter-provincial and Pan-Canadian trade agreements. Currently,
Ontario is engaged in bilateral trade negotiations with Quebec, as
well as with all other provinces and territories through the Council
of the Federation. The Association does not want Ontario to sign
inter-provincial agreements that will water down health and safety,
promote privatization and deregulation, and threaten the viability
of Medicare.

In February RNAO issued an action alert calling on all members to
support a provincial ban on the use and sales of pesticides for
cosmetic purposes. RNAO also issued an action alert to Toronto
members to support a proposed Toronto bylaw that would enhance
community right-to-know about environmental toxins.

Presented RNAO’s views at a press conference given by Premier McGuinty on
March 5, in which he outlined his government’s commitment to enact
legislation banning smoking in vehicles where children are present.

The six evidence-based guidelines that are now all completed and widely
disseminated provide solutions to critical areas of workplace health
identified by nurses as areas for requiring action in health care
organizations. Two new topic areas have been identified as areas of
focus for the Healthy Work Environment BPG Project: Violence
Prevention in the Workplace and Practice Education in Nursing. The
Development Panels for these two guidelines is comprised of nurses
representing a variety of practice settings, geographic locations,
nursing roles and perspectives which will develop best practice
recommendations in relation to the individual, organizational and
systems perspectives. These guidelines will comprise a set of best
practice recommendations for all health care settings.

The RNAO Smoking Cessation Pilot Project aims to enhance the vital role
of the Public Health Nurse in health promotion across all sectors.
The RNAO Pressure Ulcer Prevention Project aims to enhance the vital
role of Long Term Care nurses in critical areas of personal care
such as wound care prevention and management.

The PDA project focuses on developing software applications based on the
RNAO Clinical and Healthy Work Environment Best Practice Guidelines
in order to optimize access to research and utilization of best
practices by point of care nurses. The newly developed software will
be available to be loaded onto personal digital assistants (PDAs)
and tablets as part of a pilot project to explore the utility of
such clinical supports and factors that influence their uptake. This
project entails the conversion of evidence-based practice/individual
focused recommendations from selected clinical and healthy work
environment guidelines to a condensed web-based format that can be
readily accessed at the point of care by clinicians through PDAs and
Tablets for quick reference and practice direction.

RNAO supports nurses to strengthen their practice both nationally and
internationally and The Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence
has been involved with a major international initiative: an
International Conference & Workshops, Beijing, China
to be held in October 2008. The Centre is working collaboratively
with the International Affairs and BPG Program to plan and
coordinate this conference which will target an international
audience with participants from around the world, including China
and Canada.

The $100,000 yearly sponsorship from HUB International, RNAO’s
affinity partner for home & auto insurance group rate benefits
program, continues to play a significant role in increasing new grad
membership. The “New Grad” special offer brought in 1,548
members in 2006-2007, a number which was 1,105 or 249% higher than
the year before. So far in 2007-2008 (March 2008), 849 new grads
have joined RNAO which is 480 or 130% more than at the same time
last year.

In April, Dr. Sheela Basrur, former Chief Medical Officer of Health for
the province, was invested with the Order of Ontario, after being
nominated by RNAO to the Order. Dr. Basrur is known for her
outstanding leadership during the SARS outbreak in 2003. Dr. Basrur
attends the April RNAO AGM to receive the accolades of the Premier
of Ontario, The Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Ontario Minister of Health,
The Hon. George Smitherman and other dignitaries and friends,
together with the general membership of RNAO, many of whom had
worked closely with Dr. Basrur during the SARS outbreak, and hold
her in high regard.

On Tuesday, June 2, nurses across Ontario and many others mourned the
untimely death of Dr. Basrur, following a long battle with a rare
form of cancer. A public memorial will be held in recognition of Dr.
Basrur’s life and professional contribution.

In June, Hon. David Caplan is appointed as Ontario’s new Minister of
Health and Long Term Care. RNAO strongly urged the new Minister to
move forward as soon as possible with the 25 NP-Led
Clinics.

The relationship with the Beijing Nightingale Communication of Culture
(BNCC) is expanding and growing stronger. In September, six nurse
interns from China come to Toronto for an internship experience at a
number of Toronto hospitals and a visit to RNAO. This exciting experience is widely reported on
in the Chinese media.

October 21-24, “Nurses: The Solution in Health Care Transformation”
international conference organized by RNAO in partnership with BNCC,
is held in Beijing China, with 300 participants.

November 1st, for people who wish to support the work of RNAO, but do not meet the
criteria of “member” or “associate”, they can become a
“Friend of RNAO”, a new category approved at the 2008 AGM.

RNAO is working with the Canadian Nurses Association on a background
paper on Nurse Fatigue and Patient Safety that will support an
integrated health human resource approach in Canada, and advance the
nursing profession in the interest of the public.

We are 28,000 members strong!

2009

RNAO hosts its 10th Annual Queen’s Park Day. Over 130 nursing leaders, nurses and
nursing students, participate. A record total of 47 MPPs and staff
meet with RNAO delegations, including an extraordinary 75% of Cabinet Ministers.

On February 20, Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty and David Caplan,
Ontario Minister of Health, come to RNAO home office in
person to announce the successful proponents for the next three
NP-Led clinics in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Belle River,
modelled on the one in Sudbury.

RNAO takes a leadership role in the Safer Healthcare Now!
National Falls Collaborative, which aims to reduce falls and injury
from falls by 40% in enrolled Long Term Care homes across Canada, by
May 2009. Currently, 31 teams are actively participating in the
collaborative.

On March 30, the President,
Executive Director, Board members and staff host John Gerretsen,
Minister of the Environment, Ministry staff, Premier’s staff,
MPPs, environmental and health activists to celebrate the enactment
of the most progressive cosmetic pesticide regulations in North
America.

RNAO releases four new best practice guidelines: Ostomy Care and Management;
Decision Support for Adults Living with Chronic Kidney Disease; Supporting Clients on
Methadone Maintenance Treatment; and Preventing and Managing Violence in the Workplace.

RNAO receives the Minister’s Award for Excellence for Innovation for bringing evidence-based
nursing knowledge and research to long-term care.

The Canadian Dental Association presents RNAO with its Oral Health Promotion Award for
our best practice guideline on oral health and related implementation resources.

RNAO (along with the NBPRU and BPSOs) receive the Sigma Theta Tau
Practice Academe Innovation Collaboration Award.

The government announces the opening of 11 more NP-led clinics. The government also commits
to 14 additional clinics before the next provincial election.

A series of amendments to Bill 179 is passed, which allows RNs and NPs to provide a broader scope
of care for their patients. RNAO’s strong advocacy on this issue lead to this achievement.

2010

Released RNAO’s report, Creating Vibrant Communities, at Queen’s Park Day on January 28th.
The document outlines a set of policy recommendations in several key areas that RNAO wants
political parties to adopt ahead of the October 2011 provincial election.