AARN briefs

Provincial Council meetings

Any registered nurse is welcome to attend Provincial Council meetings at the AARN Provincial Office in Edmonton. Contact Heidi Lafreniere, Provincial Office, 1-800-252-9392, for more information on the meeting schedule.

The remaining Provincial Council meeting dates for 1999 are: Sept. 22, 23 & 24,199 Dec. 2 & 3,1999

AARN takes proactive role in potential job action

On May 28, 1999 the AARN issued a letter to all AARN members to inform them of their professional responsibilities in the event of job action by the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA). The letter from AARN President Lorraine Way, along with a question and answer brief, explained what RNs would need to consider if they were to participate in UNA job action. The information package outlines what decisions nurses would need to make to ensure their actions would not endanger patient safety and the role that the AARN plays if it is asked to investigate complaints during a job action.

A two-year contract agreement between UNA and the Provincial Health Authorities of Alberta was reached June 17 and accepted in a ratification vote on June 28.

The AARN also made its position clear in media interviews, its website and letters to the editor in the weeks leading up to the potential illegal strike by UNA members. In a letter published in Edmonton and Calgary newspapers, the association defined its role as a professional regulatory body that supports a collective bargaining process that includes the legal right for nurses to strike. The letter also supported a resolution without job action, the hiring of more front line nurse managers and the creation of more permanent full-time and part-time nursing jobs.

Judith Shamian to speak at AARN AGM 2000

Judith Shamian, the recently appointed executive director of nursing policy at Health Canada, will be the featured keynote speaker at the AARN's annual general meeting May 5, 2000 at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary.

Federal Health Minister Allan Rock named the past president of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario to the new position during Nursing Week. "I know that Dr. Shamian will provide me and the department with the first-hand knowledge we need on renewing Canada's health system," Rock was quoted in a government news release.

Shamian has held the posts of vice-president of nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital and associate professor at the faculty of nursing at the University of Toronto. She is a well-known health and nursing leader who has promoted professional nursing practices in many countries.

AARN signs partnership with LPNs and RPNs

The AARN has joined the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) and the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Alberta (RPNAA) in a partnership to work on common issues related to nursing and health care. An official agreement was signed by the presidents of all three groups at the CLPNA annual conference in Calgary, May 14. The partnership had its origin in a 1998 AARN AGM resolution that called for the AARN to work with the CLPNA and the RPNAA to address the issue of family violence. Since that time the three organizations have met to discuss how they could work on common nursing and health issues.

Notice of Bylaw Amendment

Current wording

Bylaw 6 (1)

"A person who was formerly a registered nurse in Alberta may apply to the Registrar for membership in the Association as an associate member."

Proposed amendment

"A person who was formerly a registered nurse in good standing in Alberta may apply to the Registrar for membership in the Association as an associate member"

Rationale

Legal counsel for the AARN has recommended this change based on the fact that as the current wording now reads, former members who have been suspended or had their license revoked, could apply for and be granted associate status. In this case, the individual could truthfully indicate on their resume that they are a "member of the AARN This would be misleading to the public, who may not be aware that the nurse is not currently registered in good standing with the AARN.

Copyright Alberta Association of Registered Nurses Jul/Aug 1999
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