Message from the Executive Director: National Nursing Week 2026

As we recognize National Nursing Week 2026, ARNM Executive Director Joyce Kristjansson, reflects on the meaning of nursing, the importance of advocacy, and the collective contributions of nurses across Manitoba’s health system.

In her message, she highlights Nursing Week as both a time of celebration and reflection - acknowledging the achievements of scholarship recipients, Awards of Excellence honourees, and graduating nurses receiving ARNM Medals of Excellence.

She shares a personal reflection on nursing identity, emphasizing that caring in nursing is both an art and a science, rooted in assessment, clinical judgment, and the ability to listen deeply to patients, families, communities, and systems.

The message also underscores ARNM’s broad representation of nurses across Manitoba, including RN, NP, RPN, and LPN members, as well as students and retired nurses working in a wide range of practice settings across the health system.

A significant focus of the message is ARNM’s ongoing advocacy work. This includes recent presentations to the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development regarding Bill 26 (Eliminating Mandatory Overtime for Nurses), Bill 27 (Principles for Patient Care), and Bill 28 (Nurse Patient Ratios). The message outlines ARNM’s support for these initiatives, along with key considerations for implementation related to staffing models, system complexity, equity, and shared accountability across the health system.

The Executive Director also reflects on ARNM’s continued presence at the Manitoba Legislature during Nursing Week, where Board and Advocacy Committee members are engaging with decision-makers to advance priorities including nurse recruitment, retention, and system growth.

Throughout the message, there is a clear call to action for collaboration across government, service delivery organizations, unions, and regulatory bodies to strengthen working conditions for nurses and improve health outcomes for Manitobans.

Read the full message from ARNM Executive Director Joyce Kristjansson here.