National Nursing Week

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2022 3 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK MAY 9-15, 2022 #WeAnsWerTheCAll C M Y K For more than a century, registered psychiatric nurses have been educated as a separate and distinct nursing profession in Manitoba and Western Canada. "Psychiatric nursing education and practice focuses on mental health, mental illness, addictions and neurodevelopment, so we practise with that focus but in a variety of practice settings and contexts," Panteluk explains. "While the focus of our education is on meeting mental health and psychosocial needs of the population, we are also educated as nurses." Brandon University offers a bachelor of science in psychiatric nursing, and the 75-seat program is available in both Brandon and Winnipeg. "Entry into the four-year degree psychiatric nursing program begins with a pre-psychiatric nursing year where students take pre-requisite courses required for entry into the second year of the program. There are a higher number of applicants than there are seats in the program, so the process is competitive," Panteluk says. "Once accepted into the second year of the program, students can expect a rigorous education program with focus on coursework and clinical experiences in areas such as medical and surgical nursing, counselling skills for individuals, families and groups, as well as courses in palliative care, trauma-informed care, psychopathology and psychopharmacology, for example." In Manitoba, 1,130 RPNs are currently practising in the profession, and the importance of their role is clear to see. "The prolonged nature of the pandemic has left many people feeling scared, overwhelmed, worried and exhausted," Panteluk says. "The stress, grief and trauma that Manitobans have experienced can lead to, or complicate, mental health challenges." RPNs have continued to answer the call by being there for people who are struggling and by meeting people where they're at, she adds. "Whether RPNs answered the call by participating directly in Manitoba's contact tracing or vaccination response or by assuming roles in remote learning centres to support children and youth or by being redeployed to new practice settings," she says, "they remained committed to providing care with a focus to communication, relationships, mental health, wellness and recovery." ASSOCIATION OF REGULATED NURSES OF MANITOBA The Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM) serves as the professional voice of nurses in Manitoba, representing between 9,500 and 10,000 members. "Nursing Week gives us a platform to share nurses' stories about how we answer the call," says interim executive director Joyce Kristjansson. "We're working to create a better understanding of the many roles that nurses have and the dedication, skills and expertise they bring." To celebrate National Nursing Week this year, the ARNM will feature members' stories on social media to highlight nurses' different work settings. They're also hosting a celebration of excellence on May 12, coinciding with Florence Nightingale's birthday, which will include professional nursing award winners. In addition, a professional development session will offer reflections on nursing in Manitoba. For those looking for a rewarding career, Kristjansson encourages them to consider nursing. "There absolutely is a need for more nurses in Manitoba and all across the world. It's a national and international issue. It's a career that has all kinds of opportunities. You can work in so many different areas. I certainly have over my career," says Kristjansson, who has worked in four different provinces in areas ranging from acute care, community health and long-term care to leadership, research, informatics and education roles. "At the same time, we also need to look at how to keep people in nursing and retain them. Unfortunately, over the last couple years, nurses have taken a lot of abuse from individuals, both physical and verbal, and many nurses are exhausted and feeling like they need to leave the profession." That's one reason why it's so important to express appreciation to nurses for their vital role. "We're so proud of the dedication and the leadership that nurses show every day," Kristjansson says. "We want to thank them for all that they're doing." << Continued from page 2 Joyce Kristjansson interim executive director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM) There absolutely is a need for more nurses in Manitoba and all across the world. It's a national and international issue. It's a career that has all kinds of opportunities. You can work in so many different areas." " ustboniface.ca École des sciences infirmières et des études de la santé Université de Saint-Boniface trains fully bilingual professionals at nationally recognized standards of excellence – with Manitoba's first Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing accredited health studies program! Our committed, proactive and highly-qualified alumni respond every day, in French and in English, to the health-related needs of a culturally diverse community throughout Manitoba. A Health Studies Program... par excellence CASN/ACESI 2019-2024 USB 22597-Nursing Week WFP Ad-FIN.indd 1 2022-04-22 1:12 PM

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