Canada joins the global Nursing Now campaign

Vancouver, June 3, 2019 – Canada has joined the global Nursing Now campaign. Nursing Now Canada was officially launched yesterday at a multi-stakeholder, international colloquium in Vancouver, B.C. The event was co-hosted by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN).

Nursing Now is a growing global movement that aims to improve health by raising the profile and status of nursing and midwifery. There are currently Nursing Now activities underway in more than 90 countries. To be accepted as a national group, Nursing Now Canada required the support of a federal government chief nursing officer (CNO) and CNA as the national professional nursing association. We are pleased to announce that Canada was successful with its application and acknowledge the important partnership with the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA).

The kickoff included brief remarks from Nursing Now’s executive director Barbara Stilwell, and key members of the Nursing Now Canada team: Claire Betker, CNA president, Robin Buckland, CNO of Indigenous Services Canada, and Marilee Nowgesic, CINA CEO. Nursing Now Canada is based on a strong three-point action plan with a nursing leadership pillar, a CNO pillar, and an Indigenous pillar. Each pillar has a distinct goal and activities.

The goal of the nursing leadership pillar is to establish a comprehensive Canadian hub of leadership development. The intent of the hub is to educate, empower and support regulated nurses to lead, advocate, innovate, influence public policy and create sustainable change in health.

Within the CNO pillar, efforts will be focused on establishing federal, provincial and territorial CNOs who are in positions of leadership (for example, reporting to their respective deputy and assistant deputy ministers of health).

Finally, the goal of the Indigenous pillar is to enable and support the current and future nursing and midwifery workforce to provide culturally safe care across Canada.

Together, these three pillars are the foundation of Nursing Now Canada.

QUOTES:

Claire Betker, President of the Canadian Nurses Association
“The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has been a champion of the global Nursing Now campaign and is delighted to be taking our involvement to the next level. We are pleased to announce that, in partnership, we have been accepted as the national group for Canada. I am confident that Nursing Now Canada will support nurses to be effective leaders in their communities and in the health system”

Marilee Nowgesic, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association

“Strengthening the power of Indigenous nurses today as they prepare the way for the seven generations to come. It is an honour to work with our Indigenous partners globally.”

Robin Buckland, Chief Nursing Officer of Indigenous Services Canada

“The power and possibility of nurses to impact health is limitless. We share the privilege today of announcing our support for the launch of Nursing Now Canada. Together, we will build a foundation for this new initiative that emphasizes leadership, empowerment, policy change and cultural safety for nurses and communities across the country.”

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About the Canadian Nurses Association
The Canadian Nurses Association is the national and global professional voice of Canadian nursing, representing 140,000 nurses in all 13 jurisdictions across Canada. CNA advances the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen Canada’s publicly funded, not-for-profit health system.

About Indigenous Services Canada
Indigenous Services Canada works collaboratively with partners to improve access to high quality services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. ISC’s vision is to support and empower Indigenous Peoples to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities.

About the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
The mission of the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association is to improve the health of Indigenous Peoples by supporting Indigenous nurses and by promoting the development and practice of Indigenous health nursing. In advancing this mission, the association will engage in activities related to recruitment and retention, member support, consultation, research and education.

For more information, please contact:

Eve Johnston
Media and Communications Coordinator
Canadian Nurses Association
Tel: 613-237-2159, ext. 114
Cell: 613-237-3520
Email: ejohnston@cna-aiic.ca

Marilee Nowgesic
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
Email: ed@indigenousnurses.ca

Indigenous Services Canada
Media and Communications Contact
Tel: 819-953-1160
Email: sac.media.isc@canada.ca

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