NLIS 1
May 9, 2005
(Health and Community Services)
 


Province names first chief nurse

Loyola Sullivan, acting Minister of Health and Community Services today announced that Anita Ludlow has been named as the province�s first chief nurse, honouring the government�s Blueprint commitment to establish the position.

"A strong nursing profession is important to our plan to build a healthier province and meet the goals of the 2004 First Ministers (FMM) Health Accord to achieve meaningful reduction in wait times in priority areas. It will be critically important to have a nursing perspective reflected in our policy decisions as we move forward with a number of initiatives including health human resource planning and primary health care renewal," said Minister Sullivan.

Ms. Ludlow holds a bachelor of nursing and masters of nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an acute care nurse practitioner certificate. As a practicing nurse for over 30 years, Ms. Ludlow�s professional career has spanned all domains of nursing including education, administration, practice and research. Ms. Ludlow has served as an administrator with Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit, Nunavut, gaining valuable experience working with aboriginal populations. Her knowledge in other jurisdictions, particularly in the delivery of services in rural and remote areas will be an asset in her new position.

Ms. Ludlow will be responsible for providing leadership, strategic advice and nursing expertise on a wide range of provincial health policies and programs and specific nursing issues including recruitment and retention, the development of clinical practice guidelines.

Leaders in the nursing community have been very supportive of the chief nurse position and are pleased that the position has been filled.

"This is an exciting day for nurses in this province," said Sandra MacDonald, president of the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARNNL). "As the governing body of the practice of nursing in the province, ARNNL looks forward to working in conjunction with the new chief nurse to ensure that high quality nursing services continue to be provided to patients."

"We are very pleased to see that government has fulfilled its commitment. This is a positive step forward for nursing in this province," said Debbie Forward, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union (NLNU). "The role of the chief nurse is to provide a strong voice on nursing issues within government. The NLNU is confident that the strategic advice provided by the chief nurse will be an immediate asset to the department and to the nursing profession in Newfoundland and Labrador."

"The appointment of a chief nurse is a progressive move for the nursing profession in this province," said Paul Fisher, executive director of the Council for Licensed Practical Nurses. "Issues regarding licensed practical nurses are extremely important to the future direction of our health care system. In our changing health system, it is important that the concerns of all nurses are voiced as we move towards the reform and renewal of health care."

The appointment marks the beginning of National Nurses Week with a theme of Nursing: Patients First, Safety Always. Newfoundland and Labrador has over 8,000 practising members of the nursing profession, representing one of the largest groups of healthcare providers in the province.

Media contact: Carolyn Chaplin, Communications, (709) 729-1377, 682-5093

2005 05 09                                            10:30 a.m.
 


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