Media Advisory - Ontario Nurses' Association to call on government to hire more RNs in pre-budget presentation

OAKVILLE, ON, Jan. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) will call on government to hire more registered nurses in its pre-budget presentation today to the Standing Committee on Finance & Economic Affairs in Oakville.

Jo Anne Shannon, RN, ONA Professional Practice Specialist, will specifically address the ongoing professional practice and workload concerns impacting patient care that have resulted from Ontario's very low RN-to-population ratio. Ontario has the second-lowest ratio in Canada, with just seven RNs per 1,000 Ontarians. RN understaffing has led to significant challenges in delivering safe, quality patient care.

Shannon will speak at 3:00 pm; the hearing is being held at the Holiday Inn, Oakville.

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

What:   Pre-budget consultation presentation.

Who:    Jo Anne Shannon, RN, Professional Practice Specialist, Ontario Nurses' Association

Where:  590 Argus Road, Oakville

When:  3:00 pm, Tuesday, January 14, 2014

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

SOURCE: Ontario Nurses' Association

For further information: Ontario Nurses' Association: Sheree Bond, [phone] ext.2430, cell: [phone], [email protected]; Melanie Levenson, [phone] ext. 2369, [email protected]