National Nursing Week

2 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017 #YESThisIsNursing MAY 8-14, 2017 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK 2017 REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES The CRPNM is the regulatory body for the psychiatric nursing profession in Manitoba crpnm.mb.ca Professionally educated to help Manitobans achieve the highest possible level of mental health. Their contributions to our community are vital, and often surprising and unique. ustboniface.ca oui! oui! Where success begins Prepare for your nursing career en français … And expand your employment opportunity Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (Bachelor of Nursing Sciences) Soins infirmiers auxiliaires (Practical Nursing) • • The College of Nursing at the University of Manitoba is proud to celebrate National Nursing Week May 8 – 14. The role of nurses is continually evolving and expanding. As education leaders, we are committed to promoting excellence and preparing our nursing students, through hands-on clinical practice and state-of-the-art technology, to bring their best to their patients. It is our honour to grow the profession by educating our province's future nurses. YES, THIS IS NURSING umanitoba.ca/nursing C O L L E G E O F N U R S I N G we'll still check on the physical, and other times it's the other way around." Traditionally, RPNs work in mental health programs within community care and acute care settings, such as a hospital psychiatric unit. In addition, an increasing number of RPNs are making inroads in non-mental health settings. As an example, Jarrin points to one student who recently completed her senior practicum in palliative care, an area that doesn't typically hire RPNs. "Interdisciplinary care is really important for the health-care system, so we try to determine who are the right providers to provide for the different needs of the population," Jarrin says. "If you think of someone in palliative care, there might be spiritual and physical health issues but also mental health well-being and emotional issues to work through. A psychiatric nurse can provide some of the physical as well as the mental health component." Other RPNs provide expertise and knowledge in non-mental health settings within hospitals. "For example, in a medical area, maybe there's a patient who staff are wondering about or who they need some assistance with," Jarrin says. "They think that this person could use mental health resources, so RPNs will go and provide assessments and suggestions for the care of the person." In Manitoba, there are more than 1,000 RPNs, which makes them the single largest group of mental health professionals in the province, Jarrin notes. To become an RPN, students need to complete a four-year degree program. Currently, Brandon University is the only post-secondary institution in the province to offer a psychiatric nursing program, and students can pursue their education in Brandon or at an alternative site in Winnipeg. Additionally, Brandon University recently increased its options by offering a new master of psychiatric nursing program. The only program of its type in Canada, it is open to RNs and RPNs from across the country. National Nursing Week is an ideal time to take a moment to appreciate the contributions of all nurses, in Manitoba and beyond. "It's not just locally but it's nationally and internationally," Jarrin says. "It's all about recognizing what nurses bring to the health-care system, and it's an opportunity to celebrate that." ✚ complicated health issues that require surgery or intensive care or specialist care," Stansfield says. "But certainly for those people that do, the nurse practitioner will refer them so that they receive the appropriate care from specialists, who are usually physicians." Meanwhile, RNs are also able to work within a variety of different areas. In a hospital setting, most people are familiar with registered nurses who work on the front lines, where they conduct initial assessments and triage patients who need less urgent care. Throughout the rest of the hospital, RNs work in every section, from labour and delivery all the way through to palliative care. In addition to working in hospitals, registered nurses work in community settings where they may focus on areas such as public health and community development. Another option is to become an educator to ensure that fellow nurses are up to date with their skills and knowledge. Other RNs might opt to work as health-care administrators or become instructors in an academic setting. "There are lots of ways to shape your career if you go into registered nursing. I can say from my own experience that it's the best career," says Stansfield, whose roles have included clinical nurse, clinical nurse specialist, educator and administrator. "Your clinical practice is very broad across all areas. It gives you so many opportunities all in one career." On behalf of the college, Stansfield expresses pride in the ongoing contributions of registered nurses to health care and protection of the public. As of Dec. 31, 2016, Manitoba was home to 13,634 registered nurses and 187 nurse practitioners. COLLABORATING AND CONTRIBUTING AT EVERY LEVEL Working in collaboration with the entire health-care team, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are valued contributors in community and hospital settings. A two-year LPN diploma program is offered at three post-secondary institutions in Manitoba: Assiniboine Community College, Université de Saint-Boniface and the University College of the North. Thanks to technological advancements, more options are becoming available in distance education for nurses who want to refresh their skills. For added ease, national entrance exams are now delivered via a computerized test rather than on paper, which allows for more flexibility with dates, times and locations. Cheryl Geisel, president of the board of directors for the College of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) of Manitoba, notes that a multitude of career options are available to LPNs. "In Manitoba, our LPNs work throughout the entire province. They work in acute care, emergency care, community care and long-term care. Our job is to provide our best care within our skill level and our scope of practice while keeping people's best interest in mind," Geisel says. "Nursing Week is an opportunity for us to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of LPNs — and all nurses — to the health and well-being of Manitobans. We work as a collaborative team to our fullest scope. Please thank your nurses for the wonderful job that they do." As of Nov. 30, 2016, there were 3,401 practising LPNs in Manitoba, plus another 406 student practical nurses and 217 graduate practical nurses. MAKING BODY AND MIND CONNECTIONS While you take a moment to recognize the contributions of nurses during National Nursing Week, don't forget to honour the registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs), whose expertise extends beyond the physical. "We don't look at mental health in isolation. Instead, we look at the health and mental health of individuals, families, groups and communities," says Isabelle Jarrin, president of the board of directors of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba. "It can be really far reaching." Diverse career paths are available to registered psychiatric nurses. Some might focus on mental health promotion or injury prevention and treatment, tailoring their approach to fit the needs of each client. RPNs might also work as direct care providers or as educators for clients, the public or other health- care professionals. Others choose to pursue careers as university educators or researchers — or both. "A lot of times, RPNs will have dual roles," Jarrin says. "We're part of the nursing family because we have a lot of basic principles as well as some education that is very similar. But what sets RPNs apart is the focus on mental health as well as physical health." As a result, the profession blends communications skills with medical skills. "I might take your blood pressure to see how you're doing, but I'm also connecting with you and seeing how you're doing emotionally. It's not just the physical; it's the emotional as well — and sometimes one will impact the other," Jarrin says. "Sometimes the focus might be more emotional and << Continued from previous "IT'S ALL ABOUT RECOGNIZING WHAT NURSES BRING TO THE HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THAT."

• Cover