Nurses do have role in decision-making

Re: Truth about value of nurses being revealed during COVID-19 crisis, guest column by Maher M. El-masri, April 19

The Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO) agrees with the author’s point how this once-in-a-generation crisis (COVID-19) provides an important opportunity to move forward with enhanced recognition and respect for nurses.

To say the “compassion and heroism of nurses has become the story of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and that nurses have been “rediscovered,” is not an understatement.

But the author’s suggestion that nurses have been kept silent in this fight is one we vigorously challenge.

Ontario RNS, NPS and nursing students have taken on a leadership role with government, employers and media throughout this escalating pandemic. RNAO has been privileged to be on daily calls with government officials and featured in the media 160 times since this crisis began in January.

The association has a seat at the ministry of health’s collaboration table directly linked to the command table, providing policy analysis, advice and recommendations on how best to deal with the tremendous challenges this outbreak presents, not to mention which care settings require urgent attention so patients and residents have the best chance of surviving this pandemic.

This direct line to decision-making allows us to share concerns and solutions that have come forward from so many engaged nurses who have been responding to my daily email updates from RNAO and connecting through our COVID-19 portal.

Nurses across this province are mobilizing like never before. Ten thousand RNS and NPS and several thousand nursing students have responded to calls from RNAO’S Vianurse program to offer their expertise in a variety of clinical roles.

And we hear daily praise about the stellar work of numerous colleagues who have been deployed in health settings where they are needed most.

The resilience of nurses and determination will prevail. We have every confidence the author’s plea for society to change their perception of nursing is being heard in Ontario by political leaders and employers.

Also, most importantly, embraced by thousands who have benefited from nurses’ exceptional care.

Doris Grinspun, CEO,

Registered Nurses’

Association of Ontario (RNAO)