December 18, 2024
Amidst the enchanting tapestry of celebrations this season brings, we are reminded of the diverse traditions that weave a narrative of hope and renewal. From the vibrant hues of Diwali to the radiant glow of Hanukkah candles, from the festive cheer of Christmas to the reflective essence of Kwanzaa and annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), each celebration carries its unique message of optimism. For many Indigenous Peoples, the December solstice is a time to reflect on and thank their ancestors, share stories, honour their origins, and set intentions for themselves in preparation for the cold months ahead. The winter solstice is also a time to recognize everyone’s fundamental interconnectedness — with each other, nature, and the universe. CNA acknowledges the privilege that the land upon which each of us is celebrating our traditions continues to be the home of diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
My deepest gratitude extends to our exceptional CNA staff, dedicated volunteers, aspiring students, supportive national partners, generous sponsors, members of CNA and the Canadian Academy of Nursing, and the broader nursing family. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone in our mission to ensure CNA realizes its vision of “progressive leadership that unites nurses to advance our profession, the health of Canadians, and a healthier environment and society.” A special thank you to everyone who contributed to and/or participated in our 2024 Fellowship Induction Ceremony on October 24, 2024, and our Third National Anti-racism Summit on November 20 and 21, 2024. The summit attracted more than 1,000 attendees! We have posted PowerPoint slides and will be uploading videos of each session in early January 2025.
Since my last letter, I would like to share key highlights of the board of directors and the CNA team over the past 2+ months.
Understanding the needs and expectations of our members
- Data analysis, interpretation and report writing is underway for the CNA Survey on Membership and the Future of Nursing and Health Care, which closed on September 14, 2024. The results will be shared in winter 2025, but we learned these key expectations of survey respondents:
- Support and advocacy: Many respondents emphasized the need for CNA to help nurses navigate challenging situations — including how to advocate for high-quality care, vital infrastructure and healthy workplaces — that puts people first and focuses on mental health and well-being.
- Education, professional development and career development: Many respondents requested more educational opportunities facilitated or provided by CNA, including continuing education, career development, specialty certification and webinars. Specific ideas include direct-care leadership training and mentorship programs, with a focus on publications and professional presentations.
- Networking and community building: Many respondents suggested that CNA should build upon its legacy of bringing nurses together by regions or provinces/territories, facilitating networking opportunities, and creating more platforms for nurses to share information and support each other.
- Membership modernization: With the discontinuation of the federated model of nursing regulatory bodies and/or associations being part of the CNA governance structure, many respondents requested that CNA consider modernizing membership renewal processes. This modernization could include offering discounts on joint membership (e.g., lower rates for those who join their provincial/territorial association) and encouraging regulatory bodies to promote the value of provincial/territorial and national nurses associations, with linkages to professional associations.
- Increased visibility and communication: Some respondents reported that CNA should increase its visibility across the national landscape and improve communication with its members, including providing more updates and being more transparent about advocacy efforts.
Collaboration with other nursing bodies and national partners, CNA members, and partners and nurses across the nation
- The CNA board of directors and CNA team were actively engaged in more than two dozen outreach activities in autumn 2024, attending or speaking at annual meetings and/or conferences for other nursing bodies and/or national organizations, with a robust calendar planned in 2025.
- The CNA leadership team represents the national voice on more than two dozen national committees and/or initiatives, and there has been improved engagement of CNA action councils, Academy Fellows and the Canadian Network of Nursing Specialties when relevant.
- The CNA and Academy leaders have come together to ensure that the next phase of the Academy’s evolution fully optimizes the knowledge, skills and expertise of the Fellows and Academy members to amplify CNA’s current programs and add to CNA’s value proposition for members, the profession and, ultimately, Canadians.
CNA Credentialing Centre accomplishments
- Stellar Certification Program
- Montreal’s Grace Dart Extended Care Centre was awarded the first Stellar certification in November 2024. Read the Quebec government’s press release, “A Canadian First at the Grace Dart Extended Care Centre!”
- The next pilot site is expected to be awarded by February 28, 2025; several other applications are under review.
- The acute care standards are in development.
- Accredited courses and programs
- Over 40 new or renewed courses have been accredited, with dozens more expected in 2025.
- The accreditation standards are being updated. The subject matter expert advisory panel to inform this work will be established in winter 2025.
- Contact professionaldevelopment@cna-aiic.ca if you’re interested in joining the network of reviewers for accreditation.
- CNA Certification Program
- Over 500 nurses wrote the certification exams in autumn 2024, with almost 1,100 nurses writing the certification exams in 2024 (statistics available in January 2025).
- CNA is collaborating with the Canadian Forensic Nurses Association to pilot a portfolio-based approach to the certification process.
- CNA partnered with McMaster University’s Canadian Centre for Advanced Practice Nursing Research to provide a letter of support for a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant submission, entitled “Examining the Implementation and Impact of a Novel Portfolio-Based Approach to Specialty Nursing Certification: A Multi-Method Study.”
- For the 2025 spring exams, the application process opens January 15 – March 31, 2025. The exam writing window is May 1-15, 2025 (results in June).
- Upcoming conferences
- The CNA team had six abstracts accepted at the International Congress of Nurses (ICN) 2025 Congress, which is being held in Helsinki, June 9-13, 2025. We hope to see you there! The CNA team is working with the ICN event planner to identify space for a Canadian networking event. More details to come.
- If you can’t make it to Helsinki, we hope to see you in Edmonton at the Canadian College of Health Leaders national conference, June 15-17, 2025. There will be a Nursing Track of concurrent sessions within the main conference program focused on nursing leadership.
- CNA’s Anti-Indigenous Racism Knowledge Sharing Event is scheduled to take place on September 29, 2025, to help mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. More details to come.
As you are aware, there was extensive consultation for the next edition of the CNA Code of Ethics. Thank you to everyone for your contributions! We look forward to finalizing and disseminating the print publication version in 2025.
In response to the call for increased visibility and communication, the CNA team has been busy highlighting its advocacy efforts through press releases, letters to federal/provincial/territorial politicians and policy-makers, media interviews and social media posts. On November 19, 2024, the CNA board of directors held its annual Hill Day, advocating on Parliament Hill for key issues important to nurses. These achievements and countless more demonstrate our unwavering commitment to supporting our members, the nursing family and, most importantly, the people we serve as we develop and drive evidence-informed and innovative nursing and health policy.
Finally, CNA stands in solidarity with nurses around the world who are working on the front lines of humanitarian health-care emergencies, whether human-induced wars and political conflicts, or natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and droughts.
Warmest wishes from the board of directors and the CNA team for a peaceful, safe, and joyous holiday season!
Yours in nursing,
Dr. Valerie Grdisa, RN, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Nurses Association