National Nursing Week

4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 BY JENNIFER MCFEE T he pandemic has shone a light on the important role nurses play in every area of the health-care system. Cheryl Cusack, executive director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM), says the past year has truly demonstrated how nurses "answer the call." "The world has changed dramatically since the introduction of COVID-19. Nurses have demonstrated that they are highly educated and adaptable professionals, equipped to be at the forefront of this pandemic. Nurses not only face the risk of COVID-19 but constant change," she says. "They are doing what is needed, adapting and, when necessary, quickly learning new skills. Nursing students continue to be educated and graduate, while practising nurses have been innovative and are often delivering services in new ways to meet public needs. So nurses have stepped up in a big way to answer the call." The ARNM represents more than 9,600 licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, graduate nurses, nursing students and former nurses in roles from direct care to management. "The association is the professional voice of nurses in Manitoba," Cusack says. "We support nurses to be empowered health leaders across settings to advance nursing and advocate for the public they serve." As the largest health-care workforce, nurses at all levels must be included in health-care decisions, especially those that impact patients or clients. "The pandemic has highlighted the chronic underfunding and staffing in settings such as long- term care and public health," Cusack says. "Nurses were raising these issues long before COVID-19 came into the picture. Nurses also have potential solutions to health-care delivery issues, but their expertise and knowledge must be recognized and valued." In the face of traumatic experiences, nurses have continued to be resilient and adaptable, she adds. "Understandably, this will take a toll. In the fall, results from our COVID-19 nursing survey of more than 1,100 nurses across care settings in Manitoba reported the negative impact of the pandemic. Much of the feedback focused on concerns for patients and clients, particularly vulnerable populations who did not receive the level of care they needed." However, nurses also expressed worry about their own mental and physical health — and ultimately the long-term impact on the nursing profession. "As we move through the third wave and towards pandemic recovery, I believe a multi- pronged approach targeting the individual, organization and provincial systems would be most effective to ensure we don't see a departure from the profession," Cusack says. "This pandemic is like nothing that has ever been experienced before, and a comprehensive recovery plan will be necessary to promote the mental health and wellness of nurses and other health-care professionals." Cusack draws attention to a report published by the Canadian Nurses Association titled Regulated nursing in Canada: The landscape in 2021. The conclusion states that "the best- educated generation of nurses in history is locked in roles and functions defined decades ago that underuse the intellectual capital of the entire nursing workforce." "I was struck by this sentence … and am hopeful that if there is anything positive to learn from the pandemic, it is the critical roles that nurses play," Cusack says. "Change is needed in our health-care system. The voice of nurses as health professionals that represents the best interests of the patient/client must be at the table." At the same time, the ARNM recognizes the leadership and dedication of its members over the past year. "We are proud that each day our profession is at the forefront of the efforts to care for our communities and thank all nurses for everything they are doing," Cusack said. "Year after year, nurses are ranked as one of the most trusted health professionals by the public. This year has shown more than ever why this privilege is deserved." 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 A VALUABLE VOICE IN HEALTH CARE RELY ON HIGHLY EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS, NURSES, TO BRING POSITIVE CHANGE Dr. Cheryl Cusack RN PhD Executive Director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba

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