Filling prestigious nursing research chairs • The China Project • Telehealth RN takes your calls Registered NurseMarch/April 2007 JOURNAL PATIENTS BENEFIT FROM TEAMWORK ONON FHTsFHTs 2786_HUB_AD 6/13/06 3:27 PM Page 1 Now I know why thousands of nurses have chosen HUB! I used to think insurance was insurance and The HUB representative also asked whether never gave much thought to where I bought I had upgraded or added on to my home. it – I assumed it was the same everywhere Now, my home has been undergoing and all that mattered was finding the best extensive renovations for some time, but it price. Was I ever wrong! I heard about HUB had never occurred to me that those Personal Insurance from a colleague at work. upgrades could affect my insurance policy, She mentioned that HUB offers RNAO or more specifically, any claim I may have members great rates on home and auto while these changes are taking place. HUB insurance, but it was her comment on the brought me up to speed on what to include outstanding service that made me decide on my homeowners policy immediately and to find out for myself. made further recommendations for when the renovations are completed. When I contacted HUB, I spoke to an insurance advisor immediately – no pushing I was impressed. I now realize insurance a million buttons or leaving a voicemail is not the same everywhere. There are message. The advisor assessed my insurance differences in product features, pricing, needs and gave me a no-obligation quotation and most importantly, in the people and on the spot. The savings were significant and I the advice they provide. really appreciated the great additional benefits Thank you to the RNAO and HUB for HUB offers. I switched to the HUB plan for taking care of me! Now I know what the RNAO members right away! HUB is all about! Contact HUB today. Call 1 877 466 6390 or visit www.hubvalue.com Toni Sammut, R.N. You spend your time taking care of others. Now let us take care of you. Call for a no-obligation-quotation and you could WIN pampering for 2 at a spa of your choice! Registered Nurse JOURNAL Volume 19, No. 2, March/April 2007 FEATURES FAMILY HEALTH TEAMS IMPROVE 12 PRIMARY HEALTH CARE By Jill Scarrow A look at the role NPs and other nurses are playing on Ontario’s newest interprofessional teams. RNAO’s EIGHTH ANNUAL 16 DAY AT QUEEN’S PARK By Kimberley Kearsey and Jill Scarrow Nurses meet one-on-one with decision-makers to address everything from poverty to nursing employment to Medicare. POSITIVE RESPONSE PROMPTS 19 RN TO PUBLISH AGAIN By Kimberley Kearsey Tilda Shalof talks about the release of her second THE LINEUP book, and how the feedback of readers fueled her ambition to write. EDITOR’S NOTE 4 PRESIDENT’S VIEW 5 RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY 20 By Jill Scarrow MAILBAG 6 Why we need more qualified RNs to fill prestigious EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DISPATCH 7 nursing research chairs in Ontario. NURSING IN THE NEWS 8 NURSES: MAKING A DIFFERENCE OUT & ABOUT 10 23 By Susan Rutherford One reluctant caregiver thanks nurses for RN PROFILE 11 the important work they do. NEWS TO YOU/NEWS TO USE 25 CHINA PROJECT CALENDAR 26 24 By Jill Scarrow RNAO partners with Chinese nurses to build leadership qualities and enhance nursing skills. Registered Nurse Journal 3 The journal of the REGISTERED NURSES' Editor’s Note ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO (RNAO) 158 Pearl Street Toronto ON, M5H 1L3 Phone: 416-599-1925 Toll-Free: 1-800-268-7199 Fax: 416-599-1926 Website: www.rnao.org E-mail: [email protected] Letters to the editor: [email protected] The simple things make all the EDITORIAL STAFF Marion Zych, Publisher Kimberley Kearsey, Managing Editor difference Jill Scarrow, Writer Tiffanie Ing, Editorial Assistant When Martha Dyer, the subject of this issue’s RN Profile EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Patricia Stiles, Chair (pg. 11), talks about her work as a Telehealth nurse, it’s obvious Joseph Gajasan, Anne Kelly, Connie Kuc, Holly Lake, Sylvia Rodgers, Shannon Landry, she loves what she does. It’s also obvious her voice on the other Rosanna Wilson end of the line is welcome relief for people who call in search DESIGN, ART DIRECTION, PRODUCTION of health advice, sometimes in the middle of the night. I was Dean Mitchell/James Ireland Design Inc. one of those late-night callers just a few weeks ago, and I can ADVERTISING Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario attest to that sense of relief. I walked away from that phone call feeling better than Phone: 416-599-1925, ext. 211 I did when I dialed. I also walked away pleasantly surprised by the nurse’s closing Fax: 416-599-1926 comment. She recognized my name and said:‘You write lots of really good articles.’ SUBSCRIPTIONS Registered Nurse Journal, ISSN 1484-0863, is a I was grateful to receive such kind words. I was also surprised because it’s often benefit to members of the RNAO. Paid subscriptions are welcome. Full subscription prices for one year (six hard to know if your words are reaching the people you hope to reach. issues), including taxes: Canada $38.52 (GST); Outside Canada: $42. Printed with vegetable-based inks on RN Tilda Shalof describes those same feelings of gratitude and surprise in our recycled paper (50 per cent recycled and 20 per cent post-consumer fibre) on acid-free paper. feature about her newest book, The Making of a Nurse (pg. 19). She told me the one Registered Nurse Journal is published six times a thing that’s truly surprised her about publishing is the fact that she has readers. year by RNAO. The views or opinions expressed in the editorials, articles or advertisements are those of the Sometimes the Journal’s editorial team feels the same way.It’s a simple thing, but it’s authors/advertisers and do not necessarily represent the policies of RNAO or the Editorial Advisory so important. Once you know your words are resonating with readers, it helps to Committee. RNAO assumes no responsibility or liability for damages arising from any error or omission or from make you feel your hard work was worth it. the use of any information or advice contained in the Registered Nurse Journal including editorials, stud- This issue’s cover feature about Ontario’s family health teams (FHTs) also touches ies, reports, letters and advertisements. All articles and photos accepted for publication become the property of on the need to feel appreciated and understood at work (pg. 12). In the case of the Registered Nurse Journal. Indexed in Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. FHTs, it’s nurse practitioners who are seeking that appreciation, and are taking significant strides in the push to educate not only the public but other health-care CANADIAN POSTMASTER: Undeliverable copies and change of address to: RNAO, 158 Pearl Street, professionals about the important work they do. Toronto ON, M5H 1L3. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40006768. Kim Stockinger told us she’s thankful patients are starting to recognize how vital RNAO OFFICERS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT nurses are to FHTs.And she’s particularly gratified that her own patients have started Mary Ferguson-Paré, RN, PhD, CHE asking if the rest of their families can come and see her too. President, ext. 204 Joan Lesmond, RN, BScN, MSN, Ed. D (c) As good as it feels to receive praise; everyone knows it sometimes feels just as Immediate Past President, ext. 202 good to be on the giving end of gratitude.Telling someone they’ve made a difference Doris Grinspun, RN, MSN, PhD (c), O.Ont. Executive Director, ext. 206 in your life makes you feel good because you’re making them feel good.That’s Irmajean Bajnok, RN, MScN, PhD exactly what Susan Rutherford wanted to do in her article, Nurses: Making a difference Director, Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, ext. 234 (pg. 23). She acknowledges that it’s often easier to point out what people do wrong Sheila Block, MA and not what they do right. She thinks it’s important to say ‘thank you’ to nurses. Director, Health and Nursing Policy, ext. 215 Nancy Campbell, MBA And she has. Just two little words, but they mean so much. Director, Finance and Administration, ext. 229 Daniel Lau, MBA Director, Membership and Services, ext. 218 Kimberley Kearsey Anitta Robertson, RN, BAAN, MPA Managing Editor Director, Special Projects, ext. 240 Tazim Virani, RN, MScN, PhD (cand) Director, Best Practice Guidelines and Advanced Clinical/Practice Fellowships Marion Zych, BA, Journalism, BA, Political Science Director, Communications, ext. 209 4 March/April 2007 President’s View with Mary Ferguson-Paré New graduate full-time guarantee and 80/20 go hand-in-hand When 4,000 new to implement these programs because and sick time stayed low.Most notably,the nursing graduates there is sound evidence that they not study revealed the cost of staffing did not finish school this only work, but they are also cost effective increase significantly more than in the two spring, they will be and better for nurses, patients and the comparator units. welcomed into the health-care system. On Feb. 9, I shared these results workforce with a In my role as vice-president, profes- with MPs at a meeting on Parliament guaranteed full-time sional affairs and chief nurse executive at Hill, hosted by the Canadian Federation job. In February,the University Health Network (UHN), of Nurses Unions.The politicians were provincial government announced $89 I have had the opportunity to conduct interested in the results of UHN’s research million for the New Graduate Guarantee, research on just how effective the 80/20 and asked me if policy support would which will fund full-time work for over model of employment can be.