Attention News Editors:

Canada Celebrates Nursing During National Nursing Week: Canadian Nurses Association Recognizes 100 Exceptional Registered Nurses

    OTTAWA, May 12 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), in
honour of its centennial, is recognizing 100 registered nurses from across the
country for their outstanding contributions to their profession and to Canada.
CNA announced the recipients of the CNA Centennial Awards during National
Nursing Week, which is celebrated around the world and in Canada from May 12
to 18.
    "In a time when headlines are dominated by the nursing shortage and by
threats of bed closures, it is important to take the time to acknowledge all
of the positive contributions that registered nurses make every day," says
Marlene Smadu, CNA president. "These awards provide an opportunity to
celebrate the solutions and innovations that registered nurses are putting
forward to strengthen patient care, contribute to research and advance nursing
education."
    The CNA Centennial Awards are one-time awards created to celebrate
100 exceptional registered nurses whose personal and professional
contributions have made an outstanding and significant impact on the nursing
profession, and also to celebrate the centennial of CNA in 2008. Nursing
associations from across the country nominated registered nurses for the
award, and the nominations were vetted by a committee. The list of recipients
can be found by visiting www.cna100.ca.
    "Recognizing only 100 registered nurses was no easy task," adds Lucille
Auffrey, chief executive officer of CNA. "These recipients all share a
determination to succeed, strength to lead change and a commitment to
improving the health system for Canadians."
    Recipients will be highlighted at the CNA national convention from
June 17 to 18 in Ottawa and at an awards ceremony in November, marking the
closing of CNA's centennial celebrations.

    CNA is the national professional voice of registered nurses in Canada. It
is a federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and
colleges. CNA believes that the sustainability of a publicly funded, publicly
administered, not-for-profit health system rests upon a vibrant nursing
workforce.

For further information: Tina Grznar, Communications Coordinator,
Canadian Nurses Association, (613) 237-2159 ext. 283, Cell: (613) 266-0306,
tgrznar@cna-aiic.ca