President's update

If you do not hope, you will not find what lies beyond your hopes.

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

OVER the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity of meeting with registered nurses from a variety of settings, as well as with undergraduate nursing students. They have shared their perspectives about current workplace issues, and discussed their hopes for the future. It is clear to me that nurses are not unreasonably opposed to reform initiatives underway in Alberta and across the country. RNs generally welcome the opportunity of contributing to renewal of our health care system, but many are nonetheless deeply troubled by the uncertain environment in which they work.

The amalgamation of 16 health authorities into nine larger regions, raises many questions about potential job losses or redeployment to unfamiliar or out-of-the-way work sites. There are fears that staff mix changes in some settings may be driven more by cost constraint ideology than concern about provision of high quality care by the most appropriate health provider. Despite the ongoing nursing shortage, students in some parts of the province face the prospect of securing nothing but casual employment when they graduate. Nurses still do not feel valued for their contribution to the health system and their fragile trust that employers have their best interests at heart is becoming evident as contract negotiations get underway. Despite these very real concerns, RNs remain hopeful about the future and confident that they can help create a health system that will truly meet the needs of the public we serve.

Like you, staff and Council are concerned about some of the changes and hopeful about others. We hear your concerns and will advocate forcefully on behalf of registered nurses and the public of Alberta. We know that change is needed in the health system and that ensuring sustainability of high quality, publicly funded health care will require openness to doing things differently. But we will not compromise on issues of public safety or quality of work life for registered nurses and other health professionals. The AARN will remain vigilant in monitoring changes and articulate in reminding decisionmakers of the importance of retaining a vibrant and satisfied nursing workforce. RN

JEANNE BESNER RN,PhD E-mail: AARN.President@calgarybealthregon.ca Phone: 403.943.0181 [office]

Copyright Alberta Association of Registered Nurses Feb 2003
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