National Nursing Week

204-992-1520 www.arnm.ca info@arnm.ca Manitoba nurses have the to make a difference & 204-992-1520 www.arnm.ca info@arnm.ca Manitoba nurses have the to make a difference & Manitoba nurses have the knowledge, passion & power to make a difference JOIN US TODAY HSCF_National Nursing Week_5.708x10.357 .indd 1 2024-04-22 4:23 PM 9 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK MAY 6-12, 2024 SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 Changing lives. SHAPING TOMORROW. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 BY LINDSEY WARD F inding hope and comfort when there is no cure in sight seems like an impossible task. But the Southern Health-Santé Sud's tight-knit palliative care team is devoted to helping terminally ill patients live their final days to the fullest. "I want people to think of palliative care as a very active level of care; it's just that the goal is different," says Shannon Reimer, palliative care co-ordinator for Southern Health-Santé Sud. "We might not be able to cure, but we are actively trying to achieve that comfort and quality." Palliative care involves a wide range of medical and other services, from pain relief to meeting specific psychological and spiritual needs as well as providing support to the patient's family. Reimer, who has been with the region's palliative care program since 2017, says we live in a society where most people aren't comfortable talking about those final days. That leads to misconceptions about palliative care itself, which is often thought to be a small portion of a patient's actively dying phase. Really, it's an entire chapter of their life. "I always tell people, 'Think of your life like a story book.' There are different chapters, and the last chapter of life is a whole last chapter and that's why the palliative care team works so hard. We have one last chapter; there are no do-overs," Reimer says. "Some people have told me, 'Well, you're just going to come here and talk about dying.' But no. While we do have hard conversations and talk about dying, yes, we also talk about what brings you quality in your days." The notion of "quality" looks different to each patient, and achieving it within the rural setting of the Southern Health-Santé Sud — which covers 27,025 square kilometres including 20 rural municipalities, seven municipalities, four cities, four towns and seven First Nation communities — poses unique challenges. Thankfully, the region's palliative care team of 24 — comprised of 13 nurses, three social workers, four doctors, an administrator, a director, a manager and Reimer — have within the past year secured the additional funding and resources they require to meet the evolving needs of their patients. A new urgent on-call line, for example, allows caregivers to connect with palliative care outside of working hours. The funding has also allowed them to bolster their presence in personal care homes. Further, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has funded a project in Southern Health-Santé Sud that will look at improving care within the region's Indigenous communities. "We have a few (Indigenous) communities here and they are all a little bit different in terms of resources, so that's a project that's really near and dear to our hearts right now," Reimer says. A group of volunteers provides further support for both patients and caregivers, who face many logistical challenges due to their location. Many Canadians these days prefer to die at home when possible, but in a rural setting, that involves careful planning to ensure patients have adequate equipment — most of which comes through Winnipeg — and medications in municipalities where pharmacy hours are limited. Challenges aside, there is something to be said about the level of support a rural atmosphere can provide. "In these small-town communities, that sense of community and belonging is real," Reimer says, "and when you're dying, that familiarity and community is even more important." Southern Health-Santé Sud's palliative staff are consistently working to better themselves as contributors to these communities. Reimer, along with a doctor and social worker from the unit, recently guest-starred on Dr. Hsien Seow and Dr. Samantha Winemaker's popular The Waiting Room Revolution podcast, where they discussed palliative care in a rural setting. Several members of the team are facilitators of the Canadian Serious Illness Conversation Guide, and Reimer herself is raising awareness about her line of work as the first Manitoban facilitator for the non-profit Pallium Canada. Reimer says her line of work is not for everyone, and she's often on the receiving end of comments like "I can't believe you do that." But she and her colleagues believe palliative care is their calling and truly see the opportunity to help their patients write their own final chapters as a highly fulfilling privilege. "Palliative care will either suck you in or it will spit you out. You're either meant for it or you're not," she says. "I know we all talk about the fact that life is short and precious. We get to see this every day, and I find this gives us a good outlook on life. So although sometimes the work is heavy, I do think it affects us in a positive way as well." SOUTHERN COMFORTS: RURAL REGION'S PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE Shannon Reimer is a palliative care co-ordinator for Southern Health-Santé Sud. (Photo submitted)

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