Annual Meeting 2011

Resolutions

CNA Resolutions - June 2004

RESOLUTION 2 ^{MEMBERSHIP FEE}

(Approved)

BE IT RESOLVED, That for the year 2006, the annual membership fee be $47.00, and

that for the year 2007 the annual membership fee be $52.00.

Background

In March 1999, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Board of Directors established a Task Force on Financial Cycles to examine a number of issues, including a review of CNA fees, taking into account such factors as long-term fiscal issues, budget cycles, timing of the fee increases and overall fees to members.
In March 2000, the board approved a task force recommendation that CNA aim to have membership fees support 50 per cent of CNA budgeted expenditures, exclusive of externally funded projects, by the year 2010.

Emphasis on long-term fiscal planning

The CNA Board of Directors has been very diligent in establishing direction for long-term fiscal planning. As a result, CNA has a long-term plan of increasing fees to support an increased percentage of the expenditures by 1.5 per cent per year from 2002 until 2010 to achieve the above goal of 50 per cent.
In 2003, membership fee revenue represented 40.6 per cent of operating expenses, excluding project expenses.
It is projected that the $5.00 fee increase in 2006 and 2007 will result in membership fee revenue, representing 43.6 per cent and 47.9 per cent of operating expenses, respectively, excluding project expenses.

Fee increases

Recommendations for fee increases are presented two years in advance and are for a two-year period.
The long-term plan for fee increases reflects the values and principles approved by the CNA Board of Directors in March 2000. This long-term plan indicates that revenue for core business must be sustainable and predictable, and CNA fee increases must not compromise the sustainability of the jurisdictions.

Current Status

Advancing the Nursing Profession

CNA fees support the work of the association as outlined in its vision and the achievement of the two key priorities and CNA Ends/Goals, as defined by the CNA Board of Directors below.

Vision

Registered nurses collectively contributing to the health of Canadians and the advancement of nursing.

Two Key Priorities

Advancing a publicly funded, not-for-profit health care system focused on the primary health care model.
Advancing the patient safety agenda with a focus on promoting quality professional practice environments for nurses.

Ends/Goals

Public policy: Public policy incorporates the determinants of health and the principles of primary health care and expands the principles of the Canada Health Act across the health care continuum.
Regulatory policy: The nursing profession achieves its full potential.
Nursing policy: Public trust in nurses is maintained.
International policy: The Canadian nursing professional contributes to the advancement of global health and equity.

Initiatives Highlight CNA’s Leadership and Action

Four major multi-partnered primary health care proposals developed by CNA have been approved by Health Canada. CNA is an active participant in each project and is leading one that will focus on the integration of the role of the nurse practitioner in the health system ($8.8 million).
Continued lobbying efforts have yielded significant gains for nursing, including the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada, funds for a national immunization strategy (included in the 2004 federal budget) and the creation of the national Health Council with four nursing representatives.
Through CNA’s work, policy-makers are more knowledgeable about the relevant nursing issues, and nurses are seen as leaders in public policy development. This was demonstrated through our presentations to the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, chaired by Roy Romanow and the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Michael Kirby. Their resulting reports featured many recommendations suggested by CNA.
CNA receives regular invitations from the federal health minister, federal/provincial/territorial deputy ministers, and other health stakeholders to participate in policy development discussions.
Since April 2002, CNA has been working with the regulated nursing community to develop indicators of a good professional practice environment. As a result of this work, five indicators are being tested for validity and reliability. They have been included in the accreditation program materials of the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation.
Patient safety has been a key issue for CNA, which has lobbied for the creation of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (there are two nurses on the nine-member founding board) and developed a position statement and a series of background documents to assist nurses.
CNA has been working to establish a national framework for the nurse practitioner. A national exam will be ready by 2005.
In 2003, CNA launched an extensive review of the competencies tested on the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE). Beginning in June 2005, the CRNE will include revised competencies, a new blueprint and the introduction of short-answer questions.
CNA chairs the Canadian Network of National Association of Regulators, showing leadership working with national regulatory organizations.
CNA’s membership in the International Council of Nurses (ICN) provides us with direct links to nurses in more than 125 countries around the world. These links enable us to share nursing knowledge and best practices, to collaborate on policy development and contribute to the strengthening of the profession and the delivery of quality nursing care for all.

Future Status

In March 2004, the CNA Board of Directors launched a strategic planning process that will set a new platform for registered nurses and the nursing profession as we head into the year 2008 – and a celebration of CNA’s centennial.

The fee increase will enable CNA to continue its work in carrying out a wide range of programs and services under its two key priorities and under the new strategic directions. If the fee increase is not accepted, CNA’s capacity to continue the following projects will be severely jeopardized.

CNA’s Workplan to Advance the Nursing Profession

advancing the patient safety agenda, ensuring that the nursing perspective is represented in policy development and health system renewal, including the introduction of a new online resource guide
advancing the mandatory use of workplace indicators in the accreditation process and spearheading initiatives to improve the quality professional practice environments of registered nurses
ongoing lobbying and advocacy efforts to ensure that nurses continue to influence the health and public policy development and to promote greater public awareness of the role the RN plays in the health care system
advancing the nursing research agenda and working to leverage the uptake of nursing research that is currently being conducted
working towards the integration of nursing clinical data in the development of electronic health records
advancing CNA’s regulatory work, especially with respect to the Canadian RN Exam, the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Exam
supporting registered nurses in their pursuit of continuing competence through the certification program, which now offers exams in 14 specialties and will grow to 17
assisting foreign-educated nurses in meeting the requirements to become licensed as registered nurses in Canada by developing tools and resources
representing the nursing profession to the public and in national and international forums and supporting nursing leaders (Dr. Ginette Lemire Rodger, past president of CNA who is seeking the presidency of ICN)
support of the Canadian Nursing History Collection, to be launched in June 2005 and CNA’s centennial celebrations in 2008

Submitted by the CNA Board of Directors