May 13, 1997
(Health)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Thank-you Mr. Speaker. I rise today to ask Honourable Members to join with me in acknowledging National Nurses Week, May 12-18. The theme this year is "Sharing the Health Challenge". This is a most appropriate theme, Mr. Speaker, in light of the weekend's two day health forum. As I stated following the weekend discussions, the forum provided an opportunity for all health providers to come together and identify new opportunities for team approaches to patient care. Nurses are an integral part of that team.

Nursing is the art of combining skill, education, science and nurturing. It is the art of balancing emotional care as well as physical care. Nurses are present at the bedside and in the community, they are in contact with patients and their families. Nurses are present in our hospitals and nursing homes, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, sharing critical moments in their patients' lives. In communities, nurses identify and treat health problems, and provide health education for the community as a whole. Nurses are aware of the need to think in broad terms of population health, healthy communities and healthy public policy.

In recent years, nurses have been faced with a changing health care environment. Even though these times are not easy times, nurses are meeting the challenges head on. Each and every nurse across this province is committed to her or his patients and dedicated to ensuring they receive quality care. For this reason, nurses are working together to give their input into a reformed health system.

Mr. Speaker, I believe nursing is one of society's most valuable professions. We should be proud of the 5,000 nurses across this province; knowledgeable and dedicated health professionals with a commitment to provide the best possible care to patients. I ask all members of the House to celebrate National Nursing Week with me.