Media Advisory/Photo OP                          

                                                                                                                            May 3, 2012

Health Unit nurses welcome politicians into their workplace during Nursing Week 2012 (May 7-13)

Nurses at The Grey Bruce Health Unit have invited Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker and Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson to experience a day in the life of a registered nurse in Ontario. Mr. Walker and Ms. Thompson will learn more about the challenges and triumphs of practicing as an RN in Public Health by spending two hours touring the Grey Bruce Health Unit as part of Nursing Week 2012 activities. Mr. Walker will attend Friday, May 11; Ms. Thompson will visit Thursday, May 24.  

WHAT: Take Your MPP to Work

Introduction and Greetings:  

Lee Ann White, President, Grey Bruce RNAO Chapter

Maureen Handley, Chief Nursing Officer, Grey Bruce Health Unit

Dr. Hazel Lynn, Medical Officer of Health

Featuring:

Innovative projects and services and evidence based nursing practice

Round Table Discussion

Media Discussion

WHO/WHEN:          

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Friday, May 11, 2012

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2012

WHERE:

Grey Bruce Health Unit

101 17^th Street East, Owen Sound

The Grey Bruce Health Unit is taking part in the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) 12th annual Take Your MPP to Work celebration, which encourages politicians to shadow nurses in order to experience and better understand the role of RNs in the province’s health-care system.

Mr. Walker and Ms. Thompson are two of many politicians who have agreed to participate in this Nursing Week tradition. They will learn about the multifaceted roles nurses play in our communities; see how nurses use their knowledge and skills to better the health of the population; and will have an opportunity to observe RNs interact with clients and partners.

“These tours give politicians a snapshot of what a typical day for a nurse entails, and helps show them how integral RNs are to the province’s health and health-care system,” says RNAO Grey Bruce Chapter president, LeAnn White. “We are encouraging politicians to better understand the role nurses play in disease prevention, health promotion, and client-centred care.”

Mr. Walker and Ms. Thompson will hear first-hand from nurses about how they are using RNAO’s Nursing Best Practice Guidelines to ensure the best research evidence to provide high-quality service delivery.

Throughout Nursing Week 2012, which celebrates and recognizes nursing achievements, RNs will remind political leaders of the high-quality care thousands of nurses provide across the province on a daily basis.

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For more information:

Maureen Handley

Chief Nursing Officer

Grey Bruce Health Unit    

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1441

m.handley@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca