Wendy Fucile Installed Today as New President of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Acting Director of the Trent / Fleming School of Nursing to Lead the Largest Group of Healthcare Professionals in the Province

Friday, April 11, 2008, Peterborough

In addition to her role as acting director of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, Wendy Fucile will now lead one of the most powerful professional organizations in the province, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).

Representing 27,000 nurses, the RNAO installed Ms. Fucile as their 50th president today during their annual general meeting. Reflecting on her goals as she assumes the top post, Ms. Fucile noted, “One of the things that has become clear to me through my role at Trent is that there is an opportunity to really bring together nursing’s practice and education sectors to strengthen the relationship that currently exists. The focus has to be on students to ensure their experience best prepares them for the reality of the practice setting.”

As RNAO president, Ms. Fucile intends to strengthen the future of nursing by fostering career opportunities for the next generation of nurses. “People who already have a degree are coming to nursing as a second degree and strong, viable career choice,” she said. “I’d like to see every nurse in every role working at their full scope of practice, without any constraints, because that’s going to move the health system forward.”

The Trent/Fleming B.Sc.N. program was established in 2001 to meet the College of Nurses entry to practice criteria to become a Registered Nurse. Shortly following the program’s inception, the Trent/Fleming Nursing program was recognized as the province’s leading partnership model in the delivery of outstanding curriculum in the sciences, social sciences, nursing theory and practice applications. Built on the outstanding quality of two highly acclaimed postsecondary institutions, Trent University and Fleming College, this program stands out because it fully integrates the best in theoretical and applied learning.

“I am proud to be a part of this exciting program,” said Ms. Fucile. “Every day I learn something new, not only from students still here with us, but also from colleagues, graduates and community partners.”

Before assuming the leadership role as Acting Director of the Trent / Fleming School of Nursing, Ms. Fucile previously practiced at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), where she held progressively senior leadership roles, including more than 10 years as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. Her previous experience, in Ontario and Nova Scotia, includes practice in mental health and community nursing, the latter with the Victorian Order of Nurses. Ms. Fucile is also a recipient of the Partnership in Education Award from Sir Sandford Fleming College and the inaugural winner of the PRHC Values Effectiveness Committee Award of Excellence for Outstanding Work in Living the Values.

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For further information, please contact Wendy Fucile at (705) 748-1011, ext. 7335