MESSAGE FROM OUTGOING CHAIR: Lorraine Way Steps Down after Serving Five Years

I extend my sincere gratitude to those individuals and groups that contribute to the work of NEPAB. This includes the NEPAB members past and present for their knowledge, expertise and remarkable commitment and dedication. These individuals have volunteered numerous hours to ensure that the work of NEPAB occurs in a timely, reasoned and consistent fashion. In addition, I would like to acknowledge the employers of the NEPAB members who so generously allow them :o fulfill this important regulatory role. AARN continues to provide both staff and financial support for NEPAB's operation and, on behalf of the NEPAB members, I would like to express my appreciation for this ongoing support.

I am very proud of all of the work NEPAB has completed since our first meeting in June 2000. In particular, I am proud of the draft nursing education standards developed in anticipation of the proclamation of HPA for our profession. One of the foremost challenges in developing these standards has been to establish a balance between clarity and flexibility. NEPAB's goal is to ensure that the standards are clear and provide specific direction regarding the expectations, and at the same time, ensure that they are open and flexible enough to meet the needs of nursing education in the current and future context.

Finally, I look forward to the implementation of the new nursing education standards under HPA. It is also my sincere hope that the minimum educational requirement to enter the profession will be a baccalaureate degree under HPA. The baccalaureate degree is critical for our profession to ensure that registered nurses are providing the services that the public requires and demands.

Lorraine Way, Former Chair

Lorraine Way, RN, MN

AARN Provincial Council appointed Lorraine Way to NEPAB in February 2000 and she was appointed as chair at NEPAB's first meeting held on June 8, 2000. Way is a nursing instructor at Red Deer College.

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