National Nursing Week

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 3 cna-aiic.ca Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @ canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek NATIONAL NURSING WEEK MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 11-17, 2020 Thank You Nurses Frontline Heroes Danielle Adams MLA for Thompson danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca Nello Altomare MLA for Transcona nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca Uzoma Asagwara MLA for Union Station uzoma.asagwara@yourmanitoba.ca Diljeet Brar MLA for Burrows diljeet.brar@yourmanitoba.ca Ian Bushie MLA for Keewatinook ian.bushie@yourmanitoba.ca Nahanni Fontaine MLA for St. Johns nahanni.fontaine@yourmanitoba.ca Amanda Lathlin MLA for The Pas-Kameesak amanda.lathlin@yourmanitoba.ca Tom Lindsey MLA for Flin Flon tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca Jim Maloway MLA for Elmwood jim.maloway@yourmanitoba.ca Malaya Marcelino MLA for Notre Dame malaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca Jamie Moses MLA for St. Vital jamie.moses@yourmanitoba.ca Lisa Naylor MLA for Wolseley lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca Adrien Sala MLA for St. James adrien.sala@yourmanitoba.ca Mintu Sandhu MLA for The Maples mintu.sandhu@yourmanitoba.ca Bernadette Smith MLA for Point Douglas bernadette.smith@yourmanitoba.ca Mark Wasyliw MLA for Fort Garry mark.wasyliw@yourmanitoba.ca Matt Wiebe MLA for Concordia matt.wiebe@yourmanitoba.ca Wab Kinew MLA for Fort Rouge wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca COLLEGE OF LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES OF MANITOBA Manitoba's licensed practical nurses (LPNs) fulfill a multitude of roles in the health-care system while they care for people throughout their entire lifespan. LPNs play a critical role in a range of environments, including emergency rooms, acute care, long-term care, surgical units, community care, primary health, team management, education — and so much more. "All nurses, including LPNs, are the largest sector of health professionals so they play a pivotal role every day," says Jennifer Breton, executive director of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM). "The criticality of their role is amplified right now as all nurses and all health-care professionals are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic." LPNs work autonomously but collaboratively with the entire team, Breton adds. "During this pandemic, it's vital that we recognize not only the efforts of the regulated health-care professionals but all the other members of our team including housekeepers, people who work in laundry and maintenance staff," she says. "The health system is interconnected, and the COVID-19 response demonstrates how adept the health-care teams are in Manitoba." Currently, there are approximately 3,800 LPNs in Manitoba as well as about 400 student practical nurses. Their education involves a two-year college-level program that is offered at Assiniboine Community College, University College of the North and Université de Saint- Boniface. As the professional regulatory body, the CLPNM governs the practice of student practical nurses as well as graduate practical nurses and licensed practical nurses throughout the province. "We are going to need all of our graduates, and our students are still moving forward in our three schools. We are hoping to see a graduating class in late May or early June and then another one coming up in September," Breton says. "A lot of them are out on practicum as scheduled, so the system has been doing a wonderful job of supporting that to happen. These students are almost done their program and they're out there helping to the best of their ability. They're doing a wonderful job too." On behalf of the College, Breton extends gratitude to all LPNs and student practical nurses, as well as their facilitators, preceptors and the entire health-care team. "Nurses make a difference in the lives of patients and in entire populations. Now more than ever, it's really clear to see the impact that nurses have on the physical, mental and emotional health of individuals and entire communities," Breton says. "Nurses have the privilege of seeing people and helping people at their most vulnerable. Right now, it's not just individuals who are vulnerable — it's entire populations and communities. Given that nurses are the largest sector of health-care providers, it can be a fulfilling career choice to have that privilege." COLLEGE OF REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES OF MANITOBA Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) form the single largest group of regulated mental health professionals in Manitoba. They focus on mental and developmental health, as well as mental illness and addictions. RPNs use biological and psychosocial models to provide a holistic approach to assessment and client care. In addition, RPNs act as educators, researchers and administrators in a variety of settings in both the private and public sectors. "Emotion, behaviour and cognition are a major focus in psychiatric nursing practice," says Laura Panteluk, executive director of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba. COVID-19 is impacting mental health, which can sometimes be overlooked in the confusion of the pandemic, she adds. "Meeting the mental health and psychosocial needs of the population is the focus of our profession," she says. "It is common for individuals to feel stressed and worried in a pandemic, and RPNs are sensitive to this and the significant challenges that people are experiencing." Registered psychiatric nurses continue to provide care in a range of settings such as acute and recovery-oriented mental health services, addictions services and services that address the mental health needs of children and youth. They also work in other areas including long-term care, correctional environments and in the community. "How we are providing care during the pandemic might look a bit different, but our focus and commitment has not changed," Panteluk says. For the past century, Manitoba's psychiatric nurses have been educated as a distinct and separate profession from registered nurses. Manitoba's approved program is the bachelor of science in psychiatric nursing program offered by Brandon University, with sites in both Brandon and Winnipeg. Brandon University also offers a master of psychiatric nursing program, the only one of its kind in Canada. Currently, there are about 1,100 RPNs across the province. The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) is the regulatory body for the profession. It's mandated by the provincial government and the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Act to carry out activities and govern members in a way that serves and protects the public interest. Tracy Thiele, RPN and CRPNM president, finds the career choice fulfilling because of the unique role psychiatric nurses play to increase attention and supports for mental health. "The best part of being an RPN is basing your career on communication, really listening to the individual's needs, and knowing the trusting relationship that was established will help in the individual's recovery," she says. "I was looking for a challenging and dynamic career, and psychiatric nursing has provided both of those opportunities for me." RPNs most often practice in collaborative environments where multiple providers from different professions work together to offer the highest quality of care. "During Nursing Week, we absolutely wish to acknowledge our registered nurse, nurse practitioner and licensed practical nurse colleagues — but we practise in the context of inter-professional teams so we feel it is really important to acknowledge all members of the health-care team," Thiele says. "So during this Nursing Week, we would also like to say thank-you to everyone who shows up each and every day to provide care and services to the Manitobans that need our health system." ✚ > CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Nursing the World to Health

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