National Nursing Week

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 3 "LPNs are educated from the same body of knowledge as other nurses. LPNs also apply the same framework in their practice as other nursing professionals — assessment, diagnosis/ determination, planning implementation, evaluation," she says. "After graduating, LPNs acquire additional depth and breadth in their nursing knowledge, skills and judgments over the span of their careers through additional formal and informal education, and through practical experience." Currently, Manitoba has 3,700 practising LPNs, making them the second largest group of regulated health professionals in the province. In keeping with this year's National Nursing Week theme of "We Answer the Call," LPNs have continued to step up during the pandemic. "Like all other health-care professionals, LPNs have persevered through extraordinarily challenging circumstances to deliver high quality nursing care to Manitobans across the province during this past year," Breton says. At the same time, the profession is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2021. "It has been over 75 years since Manitoba LPNs became a regulated profession. Manitoba's LPN profession was the first practical nursing profession in North America to be regulated, the first practical nurse profession to be granted the privilege of self-regulation and the first practical nurse profession to be authorized as autonomous practitioners," Breton says. "For over 75 years, Manitoba's LPNs have answered the call by actively taking part in the robust regulation of the profession for the good of the public." COLLEGE OF REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES OF MANITOBA Mental health has been a top-of-mind topic during the pandemic, which makes the work of registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) even more crucial. "While meeting the mental health and psychosocial needs of the population is the primary focus of the profession, we are also educated as nurses. We recognize the impact that COVID-19 can have on the physical and mental health of Manitobans. We recognize that people feel scared, worried and vulnerable," says Laura Panteluk, executive director and registrar of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba. "During a pandemic, the landscape in health- care delivery is constantly changing. Registered psychiatric nurses in leadership positions have taken on roles with COVID-19 planning and operations, bringing a different approach to communication and team-building possibilities." In addition, RPNs have answered the call by shifting the way care is delivered, Panteluk adds. They've taken on the challenges of redeployment and stepped up to provide immunizations and contact tracing. "Some retired RPNs have returned to practice to provide pandemic-related services. Whether they were required to shift to virtual care or to practise in a different setting or in a different role, Manitoba RPNs have been steadfast in their commitment to communication, relationships and trauma-informed care and their focus on mental health, well-being and recovery," she says. "Mental health will be affected in multiple ways during and after the pandemic. RPNs will continue to play a key role in supporting Manitobans and the stabilization of the system and in helping communities to recuperate and heal in the months and years to come." As one of Manitoba's regulated nursing professions, RPNs work with clients whose primary care needs relate to mental health, addictions and neurodevelopmental disabilities. "Their education and experience prepare registered psychiatric nurses to recognize the complex relationship between emotional, developmental, physical and mental health — as well as the role that social factors, culture and spirituality play in illness and recovery," Panteluk says. "Manitoba's registered psychiatric nurses are professionals who are specifically educated to help individuals, families, groups and communities achieve the highest possible level of mental health." The diversity of practice attracts many people to the profession. "Registered psychiatric nurses provide acute and recovery-oriented mental health and addiction services where people are at — whether that be in a hospital, a long-term care facility, a school, a correctional environment, the community or on the streets," Panteluk says. "In addition to providing services that focus on mental-health promotion, illness prevention and treatment across the lifespan, registered psychiatric nurses practise as educators, researchers and administrators in a wide variety of settings from hospitals to industry and from the private to the public sector." For more than 20 years, Brandon University has provided psychiatric nursing education. However, Manitoba has educated psychiatric nurses as a distinct and separate profession for an entire century. "The profession is celebrating 100 years of psychiatric nursing education in Manitoba this year," Panteluk says. "We wish to extend Nursing Week greetings to our registered nurse, nurse practitioner and licensed practical nurse colleagues and to thank our nursing and other health-care colleagues for the care they provide to Manitobans each day — and for all that they have done to support Manitoba's pandemic response." 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 10-16, 2021 A Vision For Future Healthcare #WeAnsWerTheCAll << Continued from page 2 ustboniface.ca École des sciences infirmières et des études de la santé YOUR CAREER IN NURSING • Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (Bachelor of Nursing) • Diplôme en sciences infirmières auxiliaires (Diploma in Practical Nursing) Increased employment opportunities Education en français The role of the nurse has never been more important or more visible than in the past year. Nurses have responded and gone where they were needed most, and not only provided much needed care for clients, patients and residents, but also played the role of family member and friend, supporting them through some of the most dicult days of their lives. #WeAnswerTheCall Thank you nurses for providing extraordinary care in extraordinary circumstances.

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