TORONTO, May 14, 2018 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) has launched a new public awareness campaign that celebrates the education, skills, experience and compassion that Ontario's registered nurses (RNs) bring to the health-care system.

"We know that our patients benefit from the critical thinking and skills registered nurses bring to the health-care system," said ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. "We know that research shows that patient care provided by an RN results in better patient health outcomes, fewer hospital readmissions, and saves the health-care system money. 'RN Proud' is intended to both highlight that care and call for the province's 10,000 vacant RN positions in our hospitals to be filled so we can continue to provide high-quality patient care."

The multi-faceted campaign launches today and includes transit shelter ads highlighting the role RNs play in health care, print ads in select publications, and a social media component.

McKenna encourages the public to visit http://nursesknow.ona.org to participate in a poll. Radio ads will also roll out later this month.

"As president of ONA and an RN, I hope that the public will learn more about the role of RNs in their health care, and support our call for more front-line RNs," she said. "Ontario continues to have the lowest RN-to-population ratio in Canada, and we know that there are more than 10,000 RN positions sitting vacant in our hospitals. Our patients count on us to provide quality patient care, and we want to ensure there are enough of us on the front lines to do just that."

ONA is the union representing more than 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses Association