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Chief Nursing Officer (Canada)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chief Nursing Officer of Canada
L’infirmier en chef
Incumbent
Leigh Chapman
since 23 August 2022
Health Canada
AbbreviationCNO
Reports toAssistant Deputy Minister of Health
Term length2 years
Inaugural holderVerna Huffman Splane
Formation1968

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is the most senior advisor on nursing matters in the Canadian government. The office is associated with the Department of Health's Strategic Policy Branch.[1]

Role

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The CNO position has been credited with creating nurse educator positions in hospitals, targeting federal funding for research on nursing working conditions, and enabling access to federal databases to research healthcare findings.[2]

History

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In 1968, the inaugural Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) was appointed in Canada.[3] The first CNO was Verna Huffman Splane.[4] The role's scope was expanded in 1999 with the establishment of the Office of Nursing Policy within Health Canada's Strategic Policy Branch. In 2012, during a realignment of resources, the CNO position at Health Canada was eliminated by the Harper administration.[5] However, recognizing its significance, the CNO role was restored in 2022 by the Trudeau administration and filled for the first time in 10 years.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Government of Canada (10 October 2020). "Department Listing - Strategic Policy Branch". geds-sage.gc.ca. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  2. ^ Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia (September 2020). "The Need for a National Chief Nursing Officer" (PDF). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. ^ Health Canada (23 August 2022). "Government of Canada announces Chief Nursing Officer for Canada". Government of Canada. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  4. ^ Splane, Richard B.; Splane, Verna Huffman (1994). Chief Nursing Officer Positions in National Ministries of Health: Focal Points for Nursing Leadership. San Francisco: University of California.
  5. ^ Pinkerton, Charlie. "Restore position of Canada's top nurse, nursing group urges Trudeau". iPolitics. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  6. ^ Canadian Nurses Association (23 August 2022). "CNA welcomes Leigh Chapman as the new chief nursing officer for Canada". Retrieved 23 January 2024.