Emergency Nursing Program Awarded for strengthening emergency care

Congratulations to Ontario Health’s Emergency Department (ED) Nursing Education, Retention and Workforce Program, which together with the Ministry of Health, was recently honoured with an Amethyst Award for their work on the Stabilizing ED Nursing Staffing Strategy. This prestigious award celebrates the program’s outstanding contributions to strengthening emergency care across the province.

The ED Nursing Education, Retention, and Workforce Program was developed in response to a growing need for skilled emergency department nurses, particularly in rural and remote communities. With experienced staff retiring and fewer new nurses entering the field, Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health partnered to develop a comprehensive strategy to stabilize and strengthen the emergency department nursing workforce. The initiative includes virtual training and a specialty training fund.

Over the past two years, the program has expanded to all 163 emergency departments across Ontario, delivering standardized onboarding, orientation and credentialing support. Nurses have reported increased confidence in managing high-acuity cases and greater job satisfaction. One participant described the training as “engaging, thorough and applicable across all levels of emergency care.”

The Amethyst Award, established in 1992, celebrates excellence within the Ontario Public Service. It honours individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional service, innovation, leadership and professional achievement.

This recognition marks the program’s second major accolade this year, after being presented with the Ministry of Health’s Achievement, Commitment, Excellence (ACE) Award for the same initiative.

A special congratulations to our Ministry of Health colleagues and to our Ontario Health team members whose leadership and dedication were instrumental in this achievement:

• Ministry of Health (Nursing and Professional Practice Division): Nathalie Boudreau, Nancy Peroff-Johnston, Samia Shaheen, Ellen Bruce, Tim Blakley, Mary Anne Aliazon and Neda Farsad
• Ontario Health: Cathy Cattaruzza, Carolyn Farquharson, Steve Carroll, Emma Jowett, Lianne Bach, Michelle Klein, Paul Lacey, Jasdip Ladhar, Shannon Jackson, Joy McCarron, Kimberley DeLaunay, Shari Shaw, Ada Payne, Caitlyn Mainland, Shah Hosein and Sylwia Szwiega