Dear , Happy Nursing Week! This week, we were pleased to host a series of virtual events to connect and engage with the RPN community. Thanks to so many of you who participated in the events. The majority of the recordings are now available on our website and the remainder will be updated shortly. We hope you can take advantage of these sessions that focused on our
daily themes of Review, Reset, Reinvent, Reinvigorate and Reflect.
WeRPN Research Calls for Proposals Building on our Strategic Plan and a recently developed research strategic plan, WeRPN is pleased to issue our first Call for Academic Research Proposals
request for fiscal year July 2021 - June 2022. We invite you to review our application guidelines. The application form is available here.
Deadline for submission is June 30, 2021
RPNs Needed for Research
1. WeRPN and Western University continue to recruit volunteers to take part in a research study to describe the process of how RPNs build and sustain personal and professional resiliency during a crisis such as COVID-19 in Long Term Care. We are hoping to hear from 1000 RPNs!!
RPNs who work in LTC are invited to participate.If you are interested and agree to participate you would be asked to: complete a 30 minute online survey that includes demographic questions and questions about stress and resilience during COVID-19.
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
Today, Ontario announced it is investing $35 million to increase enrollment in nursing education programs in publicly-assisted colleges and universities across the province. The new spaces will be available for Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 cohorts and will introduce approximately 1,130 new practical nurses
and 870 registered nurses into the health care system. Read our statement
Yesterday, Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, extended the Stay-at-Home Order (O. Reg. 265/21) until at least June 2, 2021. All public health and workplace safety measures under the provincewide emergency brake will remain in effect. The following key information was also provided:
At this time, all publicly funded and private elementary and secondary schools in the province will continue to operate under teacher-led remote learning.
Beginning the week of May 31, youth in Ontario between 12 and 17 years of age and their family members who have not received a vaccine will be eligible to book an appointment to receive
their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, including at special dedicated youth and family clinics throughout the weeks of June 14 and 21.
The province will work with public health units to offer both doses of vaccine to youth aged 12 to 17 by the end of August, in collaboration with school boards and other partners.
Wednesday, Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical
Officer of Health, issued a statement on pausing the roll out of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Ontario. This decision was made out of caution due to an increase in the rare blood clotting condition, known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), which has been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Data from the UK points to a much-reduced risk of VITT in second doses of AstraZeneca.
Ontario also announced that the province has administered the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to over 50 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over. The province remains on track to have administered first doses to 65 per cent of
Ontarians aged 18 and over by the end of May.
Earlier this week, the Ontario government announced it is updating the income eligibility thresholds for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and the Seniors Co-Payment Program to allow more
of Ontario’s most vulnerable seniors to have access to dental care and affordable prescription medications.
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 504,533 confirmed cases (increase
of 2,362), 468,033 resolved cases, 8,431 deaths.
The Ministry was also reporting that 1,582 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 777 are in ICU and 560 are vented. To view these additional details:click here Click Here to read the latest Ministry of Health Daily Report
World Health Organization Situation Reports are also available here
In the News For an interactive map tracking all cases across Canada and internationally, click here
Below are some key stories from today that may be of interest to
our members
We will continue to monitor this situation and keep you updated as more information becomes available. Thank you for the important work that you're doing and the sacrifices you're making to keep Ontarians safe. We appreciate everything that you're doing each and every day.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tiff Blair at tblair@werpn.com
Sincerely,
WeRPN Team
WeRPN 5025 Orbitor Drive Building 5, Suite 200 Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4Y5
