Hilda Swirsky: Respected and Trusted

Always a risk taker, who loves unique challenges, Hilda was very proud to campaign during RNAO's historic, unprecedented, exciting election contest when four superb candidates aspired to win the majority of votes to become the next President-Elect. Hilda continues to be a champion for Medicare and the social and environmental determinants of health and strengthening nursing human resources. Hilda strongly believes that nurses have the knowledge and skills needed to positively transform and integrate health care to be patient and family-centered. Transformation by increasing investment and focus on community services such as public health, primary care, home care; pharmacies and chronic disease management and illness prevention.

Stephen Covey stated, "Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people."

Hilda is an innovative, creative, visionary nursing leader who is passionate in her belief that nurses, as skillful mentors and knowledge workers, offer solutions to creating a healthier society. She demonstrated leadership and initiative recommending a solution by communicating, directing and addressing gaps with action resulting in new material being created on Defamation and Slander while she was the Chair of RNAO's Legal Assistance Program and additional material has been created even after she has left the Chair position.

Donald H. McGannon stated:
Leadership is action, not position.

Hilda strives to have a positive holistic impact on life whether at home, in workplaces, in her community, politically and on the planet.

"We must all demonstrate our accountability and ownership for the health of our planet in order to leave a healthier world for our grandchildren and their children."

Hilda offers comprehensive insight into health care complexities, disparities and challenges facing nursing and the health care system including the vital role of protecting Medicare; addressing health inequities; the social and environmental determinants of health and introducing various nursing health human resource strategies. These include strategies identified in RNAO's document Creating a Healthier Society May 2007: 9000 new nursing positions by 2010, 70% of RN's working full-time in all sectors, continuing full-time guaranteed for new graduates, implementing an 80/20 plan for all nurses over 55 (80% in clinical work and 20% mentoring or engaged in professional development activities and equal remuneration and healthy work environments across all sectors of health care.

Hilda has a long-standing extensive involvement and commitment to RNAO in a variety of roles including having been treasurer of Region 6, Chair of the Staff Nurse Interest Group, Founding Member of the International Nurses Interest Group, on Resolutions Committee, on Bylaws Committee, Project Manager in Membership and Services as a secondment to RNAO, voting delegate, on short-term Task Forces and Focus Groups and Member of Provincial Nurse Educators Interest Group, Member of Complimentary Therapies Nurses Interest Group, Reviewer for Best Practice Guidelines on Healthy Work Environments and Past member of Board of Directors, Member at Large in Socio-Political Affairs. Currently Hilda is an Executive Member of the Diabetes Nurses Interest Group, Member of Provincial Nurse Educators, Nursing Research and International Nurses Interest Groups and a Workplace Liaison.