Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
Encyclopedia
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is a professional association that represents registered nurse
s in the province of Ontario
, Canada
. RNAO provides a strong and credible voice for the nursing
profession to influence and promote healthy public policy.
1922: Through the efforts of the GNAO, 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).
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.
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.
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.
1973: RNAO supported the establishment of a central vehicle for a collective bargaining
for nurses, and endorsed the formation of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA).
1974: ONA 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 the publication of Nurse by Eric Handbury.
1979: Formal recognition was given to Interest Groups
within RNAO structure. Six had developed during the extended pilot project.
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.
2000: The Association celebrates its 75th Anniversary. An announcement is made by the 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 practicing in Ontario.
2002: 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.
2003: RNAO plays a central role in supporting the nursing community and nurses during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS) outbreak. RNAO delivers a formal request to Premier Ernie Eves
asking the Government of Ontario to order an independent commission of inquiry
under the Public Inquiries 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.
2004: RNAO celebrates 100 years of organized nursing in the Province at their 79th Annual General Meeting, in recognition of the formation of the GNAO in 1904.
2005: In January, RNAO with partner, University of Ottawa
, School of Nursing launch the Nursing Best Practice Research Unit (NBPRU). 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. 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 Policy.
, RNAO's committees, surveys, feedback, etc. The membership is composed of over 26,000 registered nurses and nursing students in various categories representing all roles and areas of nursing practice.
s, which are defined according to its bylaw
s. The regions offer opportunities for Association activities that concentrate on the issues in the particular region. RNAO is organized in Chapters/Regions without Chapters. Chapters/Regions without Chapters allow all members to have a voice in a democratic organization, become proactive, develop a local community and represent RNAO at the local level.
and the Board of Directors on speciality matters, and they allow for a constant two way flow of communication and information between members organized according to a speciality area, and RNAO.
. The focus is related to both clinical and healthy work environment best practice guidelines.
Clinical Best Practice Guidelines Program: The Clinical Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Program was launched in 1999 when the RNAO in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health
and Long-Term Care
embarked on a multi-year project to develop, implement, evaluate dissemination and support the uptake of evidence-based guidelines
. This initiative includes resources for education
and for the support of uptake and sustainability
.
Healthy Work Environments Best Practice Guidelines Program: In July 2003, the RNAO with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, working in partnership with Health Canada
, Office of Nursing Policy, commenced the development of evidence based best practice guidelines in order to create a healthy work environment for nurses.
Mission:
NSO Membership: Once students are members of the RNAO, there is no membership fee to join the NSO interest group . In Ontario, in order to be eligible to become a member of the Canadian Nurses Association
, students are required to be members of the RNAO consequently making them members of NSO.
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
s in the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. RNAO provides a strong and credible voice for the nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
profession to influence and promote healthy public policy.
Mission statement
"We represent the nursing profession in Ontario, speaking out for health and speaking out for nursing.
Our mission is to pursue healthy public policyPublic policyPublic policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
and to promote the full participation of registered nurses in shaping and delivering health services now and in the future. We believe health is a resource for everyday living and health-care a universal human right.
We cultivate knowledge-based nursing practices, we promote quality of worklife, and we promise excellence in professional developmentProfessional developmentProfessional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
services.
Respecting human dignity, we are a community committed to diversityMulticulturalismMulticulturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
, inclusivity, democracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and voluntarismVoluntarismVoluntarism is a descriptive term for a school of thought that regards the will as superior to the intellect and to emotion. This description has been applied to various points of view, from different cultural eras, in the areas of metaphysics, psychology, sociology, and theology.The term...
. We make leadership our mandate, working with nurses, the public, health-care providers and governments to advance individual and collective health."
Strategic directions
The RNAO's strategic directions are to:- Influence and promote public policiesPublic policyPublic policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
that strengthen MedicareMedicare (Canada)Medicare is the unofficial name for Canada's publicly funded universal health insurance system. The formal terminology for the insurance system is provided by the Canada Health Act and the health insurance legislation of the individual provinces and territories.Under the terms of the Canada Health...
, and impact the determinants of health. - Speak out on emerging issues that impact health, health careHealth careHealth care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
and nursing. - Advance the nursing profession as a crucial and critical contributor to health.
- Influence the public to achieve greater engagement in health care.
- Inspire all RNs and undergraduate nursing students to become members.
Brief history timeline
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 GNAO, a Nurses Registration Act
Nurses Registration Act
The Nurses Registration Act was passed on 12 September 1901 in New Zealand, providing for the registration of trained nurses.The legislation came into effect on 1 January 1902, leading New Zealand to become the first country in the world to regulate nurses nationally. On 10 January 1902 Ellen...
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).
1935: RNAO is instrumental in developing standards for nursing education
Nurse education
Nurse education consists in the theorical and practical training provided to nurses with the purpose to prepare them for their duties as nursing care professionals. This education is provided to nursing students by experienced nurses and other medical professionals who have qualified or...
and practice, and subsequently closes 37 small schools of nursing
Nursing school
A nursing school is a type of educational institution, or part thereof, providing education and training to become a fully qualified nurse. The nature of nursing education and nursing qualifications varies considerably across the world.-United Kingdom:...
in Ontario that do not meet with their requirements. The Association protects the title "registered nurse" by making registration
Licensure
Licensure refers to the granting of a license, which gives a "permission to practice." Such licenses are usually issued in order to regulate some activity that is deemed to be dangerous or a threat to the person or the public or which involves a high level of specialized skill...
mandatory for its use.
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.
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.
1973: RNAO supported the establishment of a central vehicle for a collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
for nurses, and endorsed the formation of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA).
1974: ONA 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
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
. It was celebrated by the publication of Nurse by Eric Handbury.
1979: Formal recognition was given to Interest Groups
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
within RNAO structure. Six had developed during the extended pilot project.
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.
2000: The Association celebrates its 75th Anniversary. An announcement is made by the Minister of Health
Minister of Health (Canada)
The Minister of Health is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's health department and the enforcing the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Health Act, the law governing Medicare...
Elizabeth Witmer
Elizabeth Witmer
Elizabeth Witmer is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1990, originally representing Waterloo North and later Kitchener—Waterloo for the Progressive Conservative Party.Witmer moved with her family to Ontario at a young age...
, and Dianne Cunningham
Dianne Cunningham
Dianne Cunningham is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1988 to 2003, and a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves....
, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Ministry of Education (Ontario)
The Ministry of Education is the agency of the Ontario government in the Canadian province of Ontario responsible for government policy, funding, curriculum planning and direction in all levels of public education, including elementary and secondary schools.This Ministry is responsible for...
that, beginning in 2005 a baccalaureate degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
would be the educational requirement for registered nurses practicing in Ontario.
2002: The Nursing Best Practice
Best practice
A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark...
Guidelines Project launches its first four guidelines, all related to care for the elderly
Geriatric nursing
Geriatric nursing is the specialty that concerns itself with the provision of nursing services to geriatric or aged individuals.-Geriatric nursing:...
, at RNAO's international conference: Nursing Best Practice Guidelines: Shaping the Future of Nursing.
2003: RNAO plays a central role in supporting the nursing community and nurses during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . Between November 2002 and July 2003 an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide according to the WHO...
(SARS) outbreak. RNAO delivers a formal request to Premier Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
asking the Government of Ontario to order an independent commission of inquiry
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
under the Public Inquiries Act into the SARS outbreak. In response, Premier Eves announces an independent investigation into the outbreak that falls short of a full public inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
. The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Mr. Justice Archie G. Campbell
Archie Campbell (jurist)
Archie Gray Campbell was a former Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario and the lower Ontario Court.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Campbell graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1967. He worked at the Attorney General of Ontario's office as appeal counsel for the attorney general and as deputy...
is appointed to head this investigation.
2004: RNAO celebrates 100 years of organized nursing in the Province at their 79th Annual General Meeting, in recognition of the formation of the GNAO in 1904.
2005: In January, RNAO with partner, University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, School of Nursing launch the Nursing Best Practice Research Unit (NBPRU). 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. 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
Full time
Full-time employment is employment in which the employee works the full number of hours defined as such by his/her employer. Full-time employment often comes with benefits that are not typically offered to part-time, temporary, or flexible workers, such as annual leave, sickleave, and health...
will not be met without more Policy.
General membership
General membership directs the life of the Association through various mechanisms such as involvement in and feedback to the submission of resolutions to the Annual General MeetingAnnual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
, RNAO's committees, surveys, feedback, etc. The membership is composed of over 26,000 registered nurses and nursing students in various categories representing all roles and areas of nursing practice.
Geographical organisation
RNAO is divided into 12 geographical regionRegion
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
s, which are defined according to its bylaw
Bylaw
By-law can refer to a law of local or limited application passed under the authority of a higher law specifying what things may be regulated by the by-law...
s. The regions offer opportunities for Association activities that concentrate on the issues in the particular region. RNAO is organized in Chapters/Regions without Chapters. Chapters/Regions without Chapters allow all members to have a voice in a democratic organization, become proactive, develop a local community and represent RNAO at the local level.
The Assembly
The functions of the Assembly are to:- exchange information relevant to the conduct of business of the Association and its Chapters/Regions without Chapters.
- provide a provincial viewpoint for the Board of DirectorsBoard of directorsA board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. - make recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Interest Groups
The Interest Group structure of RNAO provides a vehicle for representing expertise in clinical and/or functional aspects of health care. The interest groups concern themselves with the nursing profession from a speciality focus, as well as provide specialized expert input into Association activities. The interest groups are ambassadors of the Home OfficeHome Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
and the Board of Directors on speciality matters, and they allow for a constant two way flow of communication and information between members organized according to a speciality area, and RNAO.
Board of Directors
The RNAO Board of Directors (BOD) operates as a policy-oriented governing board. the Board governs on behalf of the Association's mebership and provides strategic leadership. The Board sets RNAO's strategic direction through its 'ENDs', and the resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting.International affairs
As part of the Best Practice Guidelines Programs, RNAO has recently begun to develop international partnerships to support guideline implementation, guideline evaluation and capacity buildingCapacity building
Capacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing...
. The focus is related to both clinical and healthy work environment best practice guidelines.
Best Practice Guidelines program
The Best Practice Guidelines Programs includes both the clinical and healthy work environment initiatives.Clinical Best Practice Guidelines Program: The Clinical Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Program was launched in 1999 when the RNAO in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario)
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is the Government of Ontario ministry responsible for administering the health care system and providing services to the province of Ontario...
and Long-Term Care
Long-term care
Long-term care is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical need of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time....
embarked on a multi-year project to develop, implement, evaluate dissemination and support the uptake of evidence-based guidelines
Evidence-based policy
Evidence-based policy is public policy informed by rigorously established objective evidence. It is an extension of the idea of evidence-based medicine to all areas of public policy...
. This initiative includes resources for education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and for the support of uptake and sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
.
Healthy Work Environments Best Practice Guidelines Program: In July 2003, the RNAO with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, working in partnership with Health Canada
Health Canada
Health Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health.The current Minister of Health is Leona Aglukkaq, a Conservative Member of Parliament appointed to the position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.-Branches, regions and agencies:Health Canada...
, Office of Nursing Policy, commenced the development of evidence based best practice guidelines in order to create a healthy work environment for nurses.
Nursing Students of Ontario Interest Group
The Nursing Students of Ontario (NSO) is a student-governed interest group of the RNAO. The NSO represents and acts as a resource for Ontario's nursing students. It focuses on the needs, concerns and matters of the nursing student body.Mission:
"Empowering nurses of tomorrow, today.
We represent the nursing students of Ontario by empowering nurses of tomorrow, today.
Our mission is to promote, support and empower the full participation of Ontario nursing students as a significant voice within society."
NSO Membership: Once students are members of the RNAO, there is no membership fee to join the NSO interest group . In Ontario, in order to be eligible to become a member of the Canadian Nurses Association
Canadian Nurses Association
The Canadian Nurses Association is a federation of 11 provincial and territorial registered nurses associations representing more than 139,893 Canadian registered nurses and nurse practitioners...
, students are required to be members of the RNAO consequently making them members of NSO.