The document summarizes a meeting between ARNBC and BC nurses to discuss engaging nurses in policy discussions and identifying policy priorities. It outlines commitments to transparency, inclusion, and open consultation. It acknowledges tensions between regulatory colleges advocating for public safety and unions advocating for nurses' working conditions, and the need for a provincial nursing policy voice. Gaps in national nursing representation and health policy involvement are identified. The accomplishments of ARNBC in establishing itself are reviewed, along with a timeline of nursing organizations in BC. Leaving a legacy for students and connecting to international colleagues are discussed.

1. ARNBC Perspective:
Engaging the policy voice
of BC Nurses
Work Centre for Dialogue
September 8, 2011

2. Welcome
on behalf of the
ARNBC
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3. Our purpose in meeting today is:
• To hear from you
• To identify policy gaps and two policy problems that we
can move forward on in the next year with solutions!
• To identify workable strategies for engaging BC nurses
in policy and discussions about organization
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4. Commitments
Transparency
Informed discussion
Inclusive consultation
Openness to possibility
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5. Foundational Assumptions
1) That the College and the Union both fulfill vital
functions for our profession
• BC nurses need to remain self-regulating, which implies a
strong regulatory framework, and
• BC nurses need a strong union that can advocate on
matters of remuneration, working conditions and benefits
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6. and…
2) That the BC nursing profession requires a strong,
dedicated provincial policy voice
3) That BC nurses deserve to have full engagement
with a national and international nursing policy
voice.
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7. Tensions and Questions
• Lack of policy and voice and presence: Who has
been speaking for nurses on professional practice
issues? How have the experiences and views of
BC nurses been represented on national and
international policy tables?
– What about resources to sustain an association?
– Membership models?
– Connection to CNA?
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8. Palpable Losses
– CNA connections and representation
– Communications and networking on professional
nursing issues
– Identification and support of nursing professional
practice / affiliate groups
– Health care and nursing policy activities
– Working with government
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9. Our accomplishments
• ARNBC incorporated
• MOU with CNA
• ARNBC web-site and communications
• RN Network communications
• Meetings and negotiations – many volunteer hours
• Organizational issues – analysis and platforms
• Responding to requests for policy input
• Attending CNA meetings as observers
• Other

10. Julie’s Time-Line

11. Regulatory Colleges
Act on behalf of the public to ensure nurses
provide safe professional care
Act on behalf of nursing to advance the Act on behalf of nurses to secure salary,
profession and benefits and working conditions
influence health and social policy
Professional
Unions
Associations
Adapted from: Benton, David C.; CEO, ICN; 2009 and Ontario Speech Language
Association
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12. Graduate Nurses Association of BC 1912

13. Registered Nurses Association
of British Columbia
• Registered Nurses Act in 1918 established the Graduate Nurses
Association of BC as the body responsible for regulating registered
nursing
• Name change in 1935 through amendment of Registered Nurses’
Act

14. BC Nurses Union 1981
• Formerly Labour Relations Division of the RNABC

15. College of Registered Nurses
of British Columbia 2005
Key elements of the
Nurses (Registered) and
Nurse Practitioners
Regulation include:
Duty to report
Section 6 (Restricted activities
without an order)
Sections 7 (Restricted activities
with an order; clinical order
sets)
Section 8 - Certified Practice

16. 16

17. Policy through a nursing lens
• Complementary and distinct mission, mandate and
policy process(s)
• Exemplars:
– Primary Health Care
– Care Delivery Models and Collaborative Practice
– In-Site: voices in unison

18. Policy gaps
• African famine
• Presenting the face of the nursing shortage: faculty,
mentors, new practice roles, practice leaders
• Succession planning
• Nurses at key decision-making tables
• The more invisible day to day policy issues ....

19. Leaving our legacy

20. Leaving a legacy
• Students and new graduate perspectives: we are
educating them for active policy roles and political
activism
• Celebrating and drawing on the first 100 years
• Connections to our national and international
colleagues
• Onward to June 2012 -- what will be our resolutions
and contributions to the CNA Biennial Conference?

21. ARNBC Board Members
Lynette Best, RN Robert Calnan, RN
Susan Duncan, RN Julie Fraser, RN
Suzanne Johnston, RN Leanna Loy, RN
Patricia Rodney, RN Maureen Shaw, RN
Sally Thorne, RN Joan Wearing, RN
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22. Onward!
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