Registered Nurses Applaud Tobacco Smoking Cessation Legislation

    EDMONTON, June 12 /CNW/ - The College and Association of Registered
Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) welcomes the tobacco smoking cessation legislation
introduced by Minister of Health and Wellness Dave Hancock in the Legislature
today.
    "Reducing tobacco smoking and exposure to second hand smoke are concrete
steps towards improving the health of Albertans and reducing health care
costs," says Sheila A. McKay, CARNA president. "Research has clearly shown the
burden of illness related to tobacco exposure and registered nurses see the
devastating impact of these illnesses first hand. We applaud the provincial
government for moving forward with this legislation."
    Effective tobacco control measures can produce both short-term benefits,
such as reducing heart attacks and strokes, and long-term benefits like
reductions in cancer, heart disease and other tobacco-related diseases.

    CARNA is the professional and regulatory body for Alberta's more than
28,000 RNs, the largest health-care profession in the province. It sets
nursing practice standards and ensures Albertans receive effective, safe and
ethical nursing services.

For further information: Margaret Ward-Jack, Director of Communications,
Tel [phone], Cell [phone], Fax [phone], E-mail
[e-mail]; Rachel Champagne, Manager, Communications, Tel (780)
453-0516, Cell [phone], Fax [phone], E-mail
[e-mail]