Front-line Registered Nurses Tell Southwestern Ontario Residents: "The Truth Hurts. Nurses Know. It's time for a moratorium on RN cuts"

LONDON, ON, Oct. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) has launched an ambitious new province-wide campaign, including in southwestern Ontario, to educate the public, enabling them to understand the impact of extensive and serious cuts to their health care.

"The Truth Hurts. Nurses Know" is the theme of the campaign. ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, explains that "registered nurses are educated and skilled professionals and the most trusted patient care advocates. As front-line care providers working in every sector of the health-care system, we are in a position to open the conversation about the multitude of issues that are contributing to a decline in our patients' health-care system."

Beginning this week, "The Truth Hurts" television, radio, transit shelter, print and social media ads are appearing in communities all across Ontario, including areas such as Chatham, Hamilton, Kitchener and London, where television and radio ads will air on local stations. The ads detail some of the facts facing not just Ontario's registered nurses, but most importantly, their patients.

As Haslam-Stroud explains, "We know that knowledge is power. Therefore, ONA is empowering the people of Ontario with this campaign. RNs have an up close and personal view as well as the skills, education and experience that enables them to knowledgeably discuss the state of Ontario's health-care system. We are, in our role as RNs, first and foremost patient advocates. We are our patients' voices and are obligated to speak out against threats to our patients' health care. Yes, we know the truth does hurt, but nurses know the negative implications of these health-care threats that increase our patients' death and disease rates. This ad campaign is simple but powerful, and we hope the public will join with Ontario's nurses to raise their concerns. We know it's time for a moratorium on RN cuts."

Television, radio, social media and print ads can be found at nursesknow.ona.org, a dedicated website featuring facts about health care, features, and an online petition.

"Ontario residents are passionate about their publicly funded and publicly delivered health-care system," says Haslam-Stroud. "I hope the messages in this campaign inspires our patients to take action and prevent the loss of our vital health-care system altogether. By taking two simple actions - signing ONA's online petition at nursesknow.ona.org and calling their MPP to tell them to stop the RN cuts now - they can help to support our health-care system."

ONA is the union representing 60,000 front-line registered nurses and allied health professionals as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; www.Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Image with caption: "Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN (left) and First Vice-President Vicki McKenna, RN are shown here in front of a new banner on the ONA Toronto Office. (CNW Group/Ontario Nurses' Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151022_C5722_PHOTO_EN_526428.jpg

Image with caption: "The Truth Hurts. Nurses Know is the name of the campaign launched across the province to educate Ontarians about the state of their health-care system. (CNW Group/Ontario Nurses' Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151022_C5722_PHOTO_EN_526430.jpg

Ontario Nurses' Association, Sheree Bond, [phone], ext. 2430; cell: [phone]; [email protected]; Katherine Russo, [phone], ext. 2214; [email protected]; cell: [phone]