Terms of Reference

Purpose:

The Maternal Child Nurses' Interest Group (MCNIG) represents expertise in perinatal nursing practice for the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO).

Mission:

MCNIG promotes excellence in perinatal nursing and promotes optimal health for women, families and infants from preconception and across the continuum of the childbearing year.

Values:

• MCNIG shares the core values of RNAO and respects human dignity and diversity.
• MCNIG promotes and adopts the core values of The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).
• MCNIG supports Health Canada's National Guidelines - Family-Centred Maternity and Newborn Care.
• MCNIG promotes, supports and protects exclusive breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant feeding until 6 months with continued breastfeeding until 24 months and beyond.
• MCNIG endorses the Health Canada and WHO/UNICEF statement on breastfeeding including the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI)TM and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
• MCNIG supports and promotes Evidence-Based Practice including RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines.

Function / responsibilities:

• To optimize the role of the registered nurse through promotion of and participation in advocacy, networking, and political action around perinatal issues.
• To collaborate with other RNAO Interest Groups, governments and other organizations having similar mandates (e.g., Ontario Breastfeeding Committee, AWHONN Canada, Breastfeeding Committee of Canada, Ontario Public Health Association) to promote evidence-based practice, participate in health promoting and educational activities.
• To represent RNAO on perinatal matters.
• To serve members of MCNIG through advocacy, programs, events and education.
• To keep RNAO informed on issues that effect perinatal nursing.
• To support RNAO/MCNIG recruitment and retention.
• To elect a MCNIG representative as a voting delegate for the RNAO Annual General Meeting.
• To participate and represent MCNIG in RNAO assembly meetings and report on activities through Members Voices.