A letter from Dr. Valerie Grdisa, RN, PhD, CEO of the Canadian Nurses Association
Dear CNA members, health partners, and Canadian nurses,
I am pleased to write to you as I embark on my journey as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). These first few weeks have been exhilarating and enlightening, filled with opportunities to engage with the vibrant and dedicated community of nurses across Canada. I am grateful for the warm welcome and am inspired by the passion and commitment of CNA members, Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Nursing, CNA action councils and networks, health partners, and Canadian nurses to advancing the nursing profession and improving health outcomes for all people in Canada. I want to assure you of my commitment to actively engage with you, to listen to your voices, and to value your expertise as we move forward.
CNA is committed to working with nurses across Canada to build our membership and have a meaningful impact on health system transformation. We will continue to foster open communication channels, ensuring that every nurse is heard and valued. By continuing to leverage social media platforms, we are working to create space for ongoing dialogue and community building, allowing us to stay connected with our members in real-time. We will continue to shape our advocacy efforts and policy initiatives based on the needs and expertise of nurses across Canada, while ensuring we focus on what Canadians need.
From the moment I stepped into my new role, the energy and enthusiasm of the CNA community have been palpable. I have been pleased by the level of support and encouragement as I familiarize myself with our association’s intricate workings. Our organization’s wealth of experience and knowledge is inspiring, and I am eager to harness this collective expertise to drive our shared goals forward.
During these first few weeks, one of my top priorities has been to engage with health partners, provincial and territorial nursing associations and regulatory bodies, government representatives, and nurses. Through a series of meetings and calls and on the margins of the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax, I had the privilege of engaging with Canada’s premiers and listening to nurses across diverse workplaces. These interactions with direct care providers, innovators, academics and policy-makers enriched my resolve to address the nursing profession’s multifaceted challenges and demonstrate the profound impacts of our profession. These conversations have reinforced my belief in nurses’ critical role in our health-care system and the importance of ensuring their voices continue to be elevated in policy and decision-making processes.
In my first few months, I will be focused on the following:
- Conducting an assessment with the CNA team of our value proposition and how it relates to our vision, mission and strategic priorities
- Engaging CNA members and Canadian nurses to better understand what they expect of CNA today and into the future, including their experience with the range of CNA programs that are available
- Building upon existing relationships and establishing new ones with CNA members, Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Nursing, CNA action councils and networks, health partners, and Canadian nurses to inform a comprehensive plan that drives every action to achieve our collective goals and desired outcomes for the health-care system
- Optimizing government relations to ensure nurses are participating at decision-making tables and CNA is actively lobbying for what matters
- Collaborating with the chief nursing officer, Dr. Leigh Chapman, and all federal/provincial/territorial nursing leaders to synergize our efforts to advance the nursing profession and be central in health system transformation solutions
- Developing a plan that builds upon our achievements to ensure that CNA exceeds your expectations and achieves its mission and strategic priorities
In collaboration with the board of directors and CNA’s dedicated team, we will:
- Focus on strengthening our advocacy efforts to influence health-care policies that impact the nursing profession and patient care
- Work to ensure that nurses’ unique perspectives and expertise are recognized and valued in policy discussions at all levels
- Promote excellence in nursing education and research and support lifelong learning opportunities for nurses that are aligned with the evolving needs of the health-care system
- Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing and health care; in November, we look forward to hosting CNA’s Third National Summit on Racism in Nursing & Health Care
- Advocate for the physical and mental health of nurses
- Promote proven solutions and transformative initiatives — like the Nursing Retention Toolkit — that support the well-being of nurses and address issues such as workplace conditions, nursing retention, lifelong learning and career advancement
As I look ahead, I am confident in our ability to achieve great things together. The challenges we face are significant, but we can overcome them with hard work and dedication. Our profession is built on a foundation of compassion, resilience and excellence, and these qualities will guide us as we navigate the complexities of the health-care landscape.
I want to express my deep commitment to every one of you. I am here to serve and support you and welcome your feedback, ideas and perspectives. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more effective nursing profession that meets the needs of our patients and our communities.
Yours in nursing,
Dr. Valerie Grdisa, RN, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Nurses Association