AARN 1999 budget

Approved by September 1998 Provincial Council; Revised by October 30, 1998 Provincial Council and November 6, 1998 Provincial Council Mail Vote.

The AARN Provincial Council approved a 1999 budget at its September 1998 meeting that shows a small deficit of $36,195. The balanced-budget approach by council was achieved without an increase in membership fees for 1999.

The annual budget is a strategic allocation of resources to meet the organization's legislated mandate, mission and priorities. The Nursing Profession Act entrusts the registered nurses of Alberta to ensure safe, competent, and ethical nursing care for the public. The mission of the AARN is to:

promote and support excellence in nursing

protect the public trust through safe nursing and health care practice

protect the public trust through prevention and intervention in unsafe practice

advocate for healthy public policy.

The privileges, rights, and obligations of self-governance are paid for by members' annual fees. The 1999 budget shows how the fees will be used to meet AARN goals and priorities.

When compared to the 1998 budget, revenue is projected to increase by about $120,000 as the number of registered nurses is expected to increase. Expenses have been cut by $500,000, with significant decreases in:

District and committee expenses Administration and building expenses

Publication costs -Alberta RN is now published six times per year compared to 11 times for the AARNNewsleaer.

Additional funding has been allocated to:

Registration and discipline for:

rising postage and printing costs for renewal forms

investigating an increased number of complaints against nurses; the number of cases has jumped from 20 in 1997 to more than 60 in 1998.

The first year of the three-year competence project for ongoing work on the continued competence model, removal of barriers to implementation of the model, and staff and committee to guide the implementation process A public awareness/political action plan to build on the relationships and awareness established during the 1998 Health Professions Act lobby; to increase public awareness of the AARN; and to strengthen the organization's ability to influence the environments in which nurses practise.

Funding has been sustained for:

The implementation of structural change as identified in the 1998 structure study.

Activities to support the legislated mandate, such as revising the Nursing Practice Standards.

Member Input on the 1999 Budget

In the June 1998 AARN Newsletter members were invited to submit ideas for the 1999 Budget. Two members responded.

Special Services comprises 1% of the 1999 Budget: the amount includes funding to the Educational Trust for a continuing nursing education endowment fund. Maintenance of Members' Competence is 12% of the Budget: the amount includes the Competence Project costs.

Public Education and Information is 9% of the 1999 Budget: the amount includes the funds for increased Public Awareness and Political Action activities.

A new brochure and poster have been developed to encourage high school students and others to consider a nursing career Funding has again been allocated to activities of the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislation Changes, which is dealing with the provincial govemment's proposed changes to health professions' legislation.

Copyright Alberta Association of Registered Nurses Nov/Dec 1998
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