OTTAWA – As strains in the health-care system continue to be felt across the country, the federal government has named Leigh Chapman as Canada’s chief nursing officer (CNO). Chapman’s role will be to represent nurses at the federal level, and to provide strategic advice from a nursing perspective to Health Canada as it faces calls to do more to stem the crisis.
“Many health-care professionals, including nurses, are currently facing enormous challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic… In fact, there are already a number of jurisdictions in Canada reporting nursing shortages, which is having an impact on the functioning of emergency rooms and other critical health services that Canadians need and deserve,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in unveiling Chapman as the pick for the position.
“With this growing crisis, we need to support our nurses, make sure they are heard and that their challenges are met with solutions. We need the right advice and expertise to inform our path forward,” Duclos said on Tuesday. “We all look forward to learning from Dr. Chapman’s extensive experience and insight… I am very confident that she will increase the visibility, the input and the influence of Canada’s nurses at the national level.”
