APRIL 24, 2013, REGINA: The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) opened its 39th Annual Meeting this morning with close to 400 registered nurse delegates and guests in attendance. The three-day event to be held at the Turvey Centre (April 24 & 25, 2013) and Conexus Arts Centre (April 26, 2013) will focus on issues of key professional and political importance to Saskatchewan’s registered nurses.
"With so much change happening around us in both the provincial health care and labour environments we are anticipating a lot of lively discussion and debate at this year’s event," says SUN President, Rosalee Longmoore. "We are very pleased that so many key decision-makers, experts and panelists have agreed to be a part of these important discussions with our members."
This year SUN welcomes Rebecca Cheatle from the Royal College of Nursing in the United Kingdom (UK) to talk about UK successes in achieving registered nurse prescribing ability.
"The benefits of introducing registered nurse prescribing ability is something we should be exploring as an opportunity to improve patient care and access," says Longmoore. "It’s about maximizing the skills and knowledge of our registered nursing workforce and is an important part of the health care transformation conversation."
Delegates will also have the opportunity to hear from the Honourable Dustin Duncan, Saskatchewan Minister of Health and the Honourable Don Morgan, Saskatchewan Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.
"Our entire health care system is undergoing significant changes as we refocus our efforts on putting the patient first," Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. "The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses continues to be an important partner as we move forward on our transformation agenda, helping make our health system more innovative and pragmatic."
Also on the agenda is a panel discussion on the value and significance of preceptors in the transition and integration of nursing students and young nurses into the workforce. The Panel on Preceptorship includes the following provincial nursing education leaders: Netha Dyck, Dean of Nursing, SIAST; David Gregory, Dean, Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina; Joanne Gartner, SIAST, Provincial Preceptorship Coordinator; Sue Myers, SIAST, Program Head, Psychiatric Nursing Program and Joyce Bruce, SIAST, Program Head, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program.
SUN represents almost 9,000 Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs), Registered Nurse(Nurse Practitioner)s (RN(NP)s) and graduates in the province.
