This dynamic council with RN and RPN representation is committed to learning as a life-long process and continuing education as an integral part of professional development. It serves to plan and recommend professional development initiatives for Nurses within the NHS. The council further serves to assist the NHS in promoting a practice environment that supports continuous learning and enhanced opportunities for career development.

The Nursing Professional Development Council is made up of point-of-care Nurses, Permanent Charge Nurses, Clinical Nurse Managers, Health Program Directors, and Educators, as well as a rich mixture of resource members representing all 7 NHS sites reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer/VP Patient Services.

Over the last few years, the NPDC has developed and implemented the NHS’s provincially-acclaimed Mentorship Program, featured at the RNAO’s annual conference Healthy Workplaces in Action 2004. Furthermore, the council takes an active interest in the complimentary OHA RN Mentorship Pilot project.

Excellence in care is acknowledged and celebrated through the Nursing Professional Development Council’s annual Nursing Excellence Awards with 9 winners announced each year during Nurses Week.