New public health nursing positions added to local health unit

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith
News Release

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Ontario is creating two new public health nursing positions in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Health Unit.

The new nurses will help the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit to better deliver targeted services such as providing expert advice and support to front-line staff and program managers on strategies to best serve priority populations in the community. Through a broad range of skills, such as counselling, teaching, advocacy and community development, public health nurses are able to support hard-to-reach groups, such as low income families, those who are homeless, isolated northern and rural residents and unique cultural/ethnic populations.

The province’s public health units will also benefit from new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) positions. The CNO at the North Bay Parry Sound District health Unit will provide leadership on nursing practices and support quality assurance for nursing in public health. This will help to ensure that the very best nursing care is being provided to residents of Nipissing.

Today's announcement is part of the government's Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health services while improving quality and accountability for Ontarians.

“The two new nursing positions being added to our health unit will enhance the ability of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit to continue delivering vital health and wellness programs in our community,” said Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing.

“We are pleased that the citizens in the North Bay Parry Sound District will benefit from the addition of two new nursing roles at our health unit. With experience in research, planning and evaluation, these nurses will support staff to better connect with hard to reach priority groups in our catchment area,” said Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

QUICK FACTS

Public health nurses promote health through chronic disease and injury prevention, communicable disease control, and immunization and family health.

The McGuinty government has hired more than 11,600 nurses since 2003.

There are more than 3,000 public health nurses, registered nurses, registered practical nurses and nurse practitioners working in Ontario’s 36 public health units.

The government is creating 72 new nursing positions in public health units across the province.

The Boards of Health are also required to have Chief Nursing Officer positions in place by January 2013.

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