Message from the President

Happy Spring! As I gaze out my office window (my thinking time, really!) I am heartened to see less snow covering the ground and reassured that we finally are in the season of new growth. My professional season of growth with respect to ANDSOOHA actually began in earnest the beginning of the year when I assumed the office of president.

The first quarter of 2008 has been a very busy time for the ANDSOOHA executive. Our first face to face meeting of the current executive was held on January 11th. New regional representatives on the executive include: Liz Haugh who is replacing Kelly Farrugia as South West representative, Karen Quigley-Hobbs in the Central West region replacing Jo Ann Tober who has moved into the president elect position and Karen Essery who is replacing Ken Allen in the North. I would like to thank Kelly and Ken for their hard work and commitment to ANDSOOHA during their terms as regional representatives. Traditionally the first meeting of the year involves new member orientation and assignment of Portfolios and Committees. Executive assignments are as follows:

Portfolios
  • Communication (including website) – Regina Elliott

  • Membership – Karen Essery

  • Conference/AGM – Penny

  • Lavalley and Liz Haugh

  • Education – Jo Ann Tober
Committees
  • alPHa Board – Susan Kniahnicki

  • alPHa Advocacy Committee – Jo Ann Tober

  • OPHA Board – Monica Mitchell

  • OCCHA Board – Marion McGeein

  • Joint Provincial Nursing Committee – Susan Kniahnicki

  • Nursing Graduate Guarantee Committee – Monica Mitchell

  • Nursing Graduate Guarantee Employer Capacity Workgroup – Monica Mitchell

  • Nursing Human Resource Planning Co-Lead – Susan Kniahnicki and Karen Quigley-Hobbs.
Many of you will already know that ANDSOOHA and Algoma Public Health were notified in December that we were successful in receiving funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for a project to develop a package and toolkit for public health nursing orientation. This is a topic that was identified as a priority at the AGM in October. This project is the only public health project funded under this call for Nursing Human Resource Planning. The project is co-led by myself and Karen as identified above. An advisory committee has been established including representation from CHNIG (Community Health Nurses Initiatives Group) of RNAO, an advisor from the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards, McMaster University and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Applications were received and reviewed from seven Ontario health units with five health units selected to pilot the toolkit. The five pilot sites selected for the one year project are:
  • Eastern Ontario Health Unit

  • Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit

  • Niagara Region Health Department

  • Public Health Services, City of Hamilton

  • Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Planning is well underway for our annual workshop to be held in Toronto on October 8, 2008. Based on feedback from our workshop last year we will be bringing back Gerry Smith from Shepell-fgi. Gerry addressed the group about employee trends in the workplace. He is a highly engaging speaker and his material was very relevant to the managers in attendance.

One of the strategic directions for ANDSOOHA is to maintain current linkages and to reach out to other groups to advance public health nursing and public health nursing management. Initial efforts are underway with other groups such as the NLN (Nursing Leadership Network) of Ontario.

Like many of you within your health units, ANDSOOHA completed surveys for Phase One of the protocol review for the proposed Ontario Public Health Standards and will participate in the Phase Two review.

ANDSOOHA continues to be involved in the New Nursing Graduate Guarantee Task Force for the Nursing Graduate Strategy (note Monica’s committee participation above) which supports the transition of new nursing graduates into full time work. Health Units have recently been surveyed for feedback regarding moving new graduates into full time positions.

As we, in our positions of nursing management in our health units, look ahead to National Nursing Week May 12-18 I would urge each of you to consider this year’s national theme.
  • Think you know nursing? Take a closer look.
...calling on Canadians to challenge their perceptions of the role of nurses in our health system.

Each of us can contribute in many meaningful ways to issue this call.


Wishing you a very Happy Spring!


Susan Kniahnicki