Media Advisory - Nurses take politicians to work during Nursing Week 2012 (May 7-13)

TORONTO, May 4, 2012 /CNW/ - More than 50 members of provincial parliament (MPPs) will spend time away from Queen's Park to gain more insight into the expertise of Ontario's registered nurses. These politicians will join RNs at work during home care visits, hospital rounds, in nursing homes, public health units and community health centres.

A number of politicians are participating in the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario's (RNAO) annual Take Your MPP to Work event. Now in its 12th year, this initiative allows politicians to shadow nurses across the province in a variety of settings - from acute care to street outreach. Politicians will learn more about how RNs help improve their patients' health outcomes and quality of life by providing knowledge-based care driven by evidence, skills, compassion and dedication.

Rhonda Seidman-Carlson, RNAO's newly minted president and chief nursing executive at The Scarborough Hospital, has hosted elected officials at her workplace during Take Your MPP to Work in previous years. She says: "The event serves as an eye opener for politicians. It gives them a window to observe and comprehend the significance of the quality care we provide." She adds that "politicians will see just how influential RNs are to patients' experiences and clinical outcomes, as well as to improving the health of our communities, and our system effectiveness."

RNAO's Chief Executive Officer Doris Grinspun says the event helps inform politicians about the scope of nurses' practice. "Ontario's politicians will observe, first-hand, the integral roles RNs play in communities - whether they're providing client-centred care and disease prevention, or promoting good health and preventing complications when illness strikes." Highlights of Take Your MPP to Work include:

• Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, will tour Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre's H-wing on Wednesday, May 9 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy, will tour London Health Sciences Centre on Friday, May 11. The visit begins at 1:30 p.m. Also in attendance are: NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong and PC MPP Jeff Yurek.
  
  
• Tim Hudak, Ontario PC Leader, will visit York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill on Wednesday, May 9 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Christine Elliott, PC Deputy Leader and Health Critic, will attend a breakfast at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby on Friday, May 11 from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. Also in attendance are: Liberal MPP Tracy MacCharles, Liberal MPP Joe Dickson, PC MPP John O'Toole and PC MPP Jerry Ouellette.
  
  
• France Gélinas, NDP Health Critic, will visit Sudbury and District Health Unit on Friday, May 11. The visit will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Over 50 politicians will join RNs during their rounds. For a complete list of all the visits, which will be updated throughout Nursing Week (May 7-13), visit: http://nursingweek.rnao.ca/take-your-mpp-to-work-2012.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.   For more information about RNAO, visit our website at www.RNAO.ca. You can also check out our Facebook page at www.RNAO.org/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RNAO.

about media availability, or if you have any questions about the times or dates for any of these visits, please contact:

Melissa Di Costanzo
Communications Officer/Writer, RNAO
Ph: 416-599-1925/1-800-268-7199 ext. 250
[e-mail]

Marion Zych
Director of Communications, RNAO
Cell: 647-406-5605; Office: 416-408-5605
Toll free: 1-800-268-7199 ext. 209
[e-mail]