FYI: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Canadi....html?x=0&.v=1

Nursing leaders from across Canada are meeting in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, at the same time Canada's health ministers are gathering here. Nurses recently held a Think Tank on September 7, to consider the latest evidence on nursing practice and workplaces and are releasing a new report today published by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Experts and Evidence: Opportunities in Nursing.

Nursing workplaces and practice are seeing significant changes. Some of these changes are driven by technology and research based on evidence. Other changes are being made without regard to the evidence or health outcomes, at times in misguided attempts to reduce budget expenditures. Nurses are seeking to direct the health ministers towards more positive evidence-based choices, and away from the more negative, poorly considered experiments that have been damaging the health care system.

"We have evidence that increased nursing care improves the cost effectiveness of the health care system and increases patient safety," said Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. "That evidence dispels the idea that you can save money by reducing the number of nurses on a shift. Having more nurses in direct patient care reduces death rates, infections, the length of hospital stays and the need for patients to return a second time with the same problem. Cutting nurses to save money is a false economy that actually costs the health system more," Silas explained.

Armed with the report and findings from the Think Tank "Valuing Care -Valuing Nurses," nurses are pointing the way to evidence-based action that would serve to improve health outcomes, increase access to health care, and make the system more sustainable. The new publication, Experts and Evidence: Opportunities in Nursing, provides concrete examples of how innovations, including safe staffing practices and the creation of healthier work environments, can transform patient care and bring stability to the system.

Debbie Forward, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union, emphasized that if policy makers listened to the advice of nurses, they would save money and create safer environments for patients and nurses. "Evidence-based initiatives such as the expansion of the nurse practitioner role are already saving money while expanding access to health care in our province," said Forward. "We know investing in nurses is investing in a healthier Canada and we urge health ministers to recognize the findings of this report."

The complete report, Experts and Evidence: Opportunities in Nursing, is available online at www.nursesunions.ca.