Spring 2008 Message

Spring is finally here! While the weather may not tell us this, RNAO’s annual general meeting (AGM) sure does. The theme of the event was Nursing: Everyday Heros. You can view a visual presentation from the event at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb0zc0cksF4

AGM is always a time where I become energized as a nurse with meeting and networking with others from across the province. As well AGM is a time to see positive transformation occurring within RNAO due to the transition board, chapter and interest group executive members passing on the torch of Speaking Out for Health and Speaking out for Nursing to others. Several of these transitions have effected PNEIG directly at the Board and interest group level.

Nursing: Everyday Education Heros

Member at Large Nursing Education
After two terms on the Board Judy Britnell passes her torch to Kathleen White-Williams.

I would like to thank Judy for all her hard work in keeping critical education issues on the radar in the professional nursing agenda in Ontario. Your calm and insightful knowledge of nursing education has positioned us well. Thank you Judy!

Kathleen White- Williams comes to us with a wealth of past experience on the board. She served as Region 5 Representative, Board of Directors from April 1999 to September 2004, and served on the RNAO Finance Committee and the RNAO Nursing Research Committee. Kathy is currently a Professor and Program Co-coordinator, Year 1, UNB-Humber Collaborative Bachelor of Nursing Program, Humber ITAL, Toronto, Ontario. She has extensive experience in nursing and health care affiliated education, acute surgical, emergency and critical care nursing practice in urban and rural health care agencies, and administration. Welcome Kathy!

PNEIG Executive
Pat Patterson, Regional representative for the West, has been a long time board member with PNEIG and advocate for Nursing Education. Recently she has been instrumental in making significant contributions by her work with PNEIG on the symposium planning committee and as a driving force behind a resolution passed at the most recent AGM calling for RNAO to advocate for Mental Illness education in undergraduate programs. While Pat is retiring from Nursing and leaving the executive she still plans to maintain her membership in PNEIG. Pat thank you for making a difference in Ontario nursing education!

Marianne Cochrane has passed the presidential torch to me at the beginning of April. She moves to the past president position on the executive and is very active in the preparations for out May Symposium. Marianne has been a long time leader in various capacities within RNAO that are too many to mention. She was re elected to the Provincial Nominations Committee at the April AGM. Congratulations Marianne!

Are you interested in being a Nursing Education Hero? Currently we have PNEIG executive opportunities available. For more information please email us at secretary@pneig.ca

Spring Symposium
PNEIG and RNAO’s Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence have teamed up to present a spring symposium titled Sharing Visions of Practice and Possibilities: Esprit, Excellence & Evolution. The event takes place in Toronto at the Acadian Court May 21-22. Key features of this event are: a workshop titled “Bullying in the Workplace”, PNEIG’s AGM, keynote addresses from Heather Lee Kilty and Brian Thwaits, plus various concurrent presentations about diverse aspects of Nursing Education and a showcase of Nursing Students’ projects. Please register early to reserve your spot at this informative event.  -  Program  -  Registration Form

PNEIG Newsletter
After much discussion at PNEIG executive meetings we have decided to trial an electronic version of our newsletter this spring to replace our paper copy. This is being done to try and contain costs and to get the newsletter out to you in a quick and more contemporary way. The first electronic issue should come to you in June. We would appreciate any feedback that you may have on this transition. Please send your comments to secretary@pneig.ca.

Yours in Nursing
Laurie Clune RN
PNEIG President

March 2008

Winter 2008 Update

Dear PNEIG Member (and perhaps potentially interested members to be):

Your Executive has been quite busy over the last few months planning for the upcoming 2nd May Symposium entitled Sharing Visions of Practice and Possibility. It will take place in Toronto May 22, 2008 following our Annual General Meeting which will occur the evening before on May 21st, 2008. I hope you will be able to mark your calendars and attend both or at least one of these events. Watch further information in the days ahead.

As a further update on the groups' activities, President-Elect Laurie Clune will assume her presidency/chair position as of April 1, 2008. I will move into the Past-President/Chair position at this time and work along side Laurie and assist wherever required. Please show Laurie your support as she continues on with the work of our Interest Group.

There are some positions on the Executive that remain open. At this time these are Executive Network Officers for Policy/Political Action, and Region South Representative. Please see an overview of the role & responsibilities for each of the executive positions along with the Call for Nominations form (pdf). If you have an interest in any of the positions, please contact myself or Laurie to discuss the possibilities that are or will be coming available.

Once again, PNEIG is sponsoring 2 scholarships at $1,500.00 each and one for $5,000 specifically for nursing research focusing on education Be sure to visit Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario for details and deadlines for application. Apply online. 

One final note of interest perhaps is the availability of the CNA NurseONE portal. Here is more information about NurseONE.

If you have any further questions I welcome contact from you. I can be reached at marianne.cochrane@dc-uoit.ca.

I sincerely hope to see many of you in May at the Symposium, if not sooner at the RNAO AGM being held again in Markham April 11, 2008.

Respectfully yours,

Marianne Cochrane President/Chair PNEIG

Summer 2007

Dear PNEIG Member:

I’m pleased to announce we have new members on the Executive for the term April 2007 to March 2009. See them here. We still have some vacant positions and need volunteers. This is a great time to become more involved in PNEIG and help us do the important work we do. Please consider volunteering. If you know a colleague who would be interested, please forward this message to them.

Please read about Our Role-The Function and Expectation of PNEIG (from the RNAO Leadership Manual)

The positions that remain open are Executive Network Officers for Policy/Political Action, Website monitor and finally Student Representatives. An overview of the role & responsibilities for each is included (as well as the other positions). We all work together as a team and no one is left on their own.

A small team has met to plan our next Symposium to be held in Spring 2008. Please join the planning team. The symposium will be held in collaboration with the RNAO Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence. Plan to attend the Symposium either as a speaker or participant. Watch for details by early fall.

If you have any further questions I welcome contact from you. I can be reached at marianne.cochrane@dc-uoit.ca.

I sincerely hope to see many of you over the coming year.

Respectfully yours,

Marianne Cochrane President/Chair PNEIG