NEWS BULLETIN:  Updated as of July 9, 2010!

1. How the new HST has impacted OPANA: 

The new HST was implemented on July 1, 2010.  All of OPANA's sales are subject to the addition of HST.  However, OPANA will continue to commit to the following product sales without increase.  All goods and services will be noted with the HST included in the total selling price:

a) Membership, 2010:  OPANA has committed to the original Membership fee for 2010;  prices are unchanged and remain at $50 (Active), $35 (Associate) and $30 (Student), which include the 13% HST.

b) Conference, 2010:  OPANA has committed to the 2010 Conference Registration fees as advertised this year:  prices are unchanged as quoted on registration forms, and all prices now include the 13% HST (see #2 below for further information on pricing for this event).

c) OPANA Wear:  prices are unchanged and continue to be "summer garage sale" low, low prices.  All prices include the 13% HST.

OPANA has been required to add the additional tax to the following: 

Standards of Practice, 6th Edition (2009):  Standards are now selling for a small 8% increase in order to cover the difference between the 5% GST and 13% HST that OPANA is now subjected to.  Prices remain low:  $54 for OPANA members and $81 for non-members per Standards order.

2.  REGISTRATION FOR OPANA's INSPIRATIONS CONFERENCE NOW OPEN!!!  For more information, click here:  OPANA 2010 CONFERENCE AND 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

3.  CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION UPDATE:  Click here.

4.  STANDARDS OF PERIANESTHESIA NURSING PRACTICE, 6TH EDITION, 2009:  NOW AVAILABLE!!!!  CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LEARN MORE!

********************* 

To continue with learning more "About OPANA", please read below.....

OPANA is the acronym which stands for the "Ontario PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association".  This is the province of Ontario's only non-profit professional nursing association serving nurses who provide patient care, including Pre-Anesthetic care, in all areas of health care where all types of anesthetics are administered. 

These areas include, but are not limited to:

• Pre-Admission Clinics

• Ambulatory Clinics

• Post Anesthetic Care Units (PACU)

• Day Surgery Units

• Free Standing Dental and Plastic Surgery Clinics

• Endoscopy Units

• Cystoscopy Units

• Labour and Delivery Units

• Any other area of health care where local, general or regional anesthetics or sedation are given to patients undergoing a wide variety of treatments or surgery.

The purpose of OPANA is to lead the province's perianesthesia nurses through perianesthesia nursing education and practice standards with applied research.  This is accomplished through communication, networking, knowledge exchange, use of evidence-based research and incorporating them ultimately into Practice Standards.

Goals: 

1) To be the resource for perianesthesia education throughout the province of Ontario and beyond;

2)  To influence patient safety, practice standards and public policy;

3)  To utilize relevant evidence-based practice and research to conduct educational sessions for its membership and associated interested parties.

In the late 1990's, OPANA worked with other Canadian provinces to organize a national association which would reflect the principles that OPANA and other provincial associations believed in.  In 2002, the National Association of PeriAnesthesia Nurses of Canada (NAPAN©) was officially recognized by the Canadian Nurses Association.  This Canadian body of perianesthesia nurses advocates for our clients from a national perspective.  All OPANA members are automatically members of NAPAN© and a portion of the OPANA membership fee goes towards supporting this national association. 

OPANA is working towards developing a certification exam in collaboration with associated professional groups (i.e., CNA, NAPAN©).