National Nursing Week

A U G . 3 1 , 2 0 1 7 : RN regulations passed under the RHPA "These regulations will optimize RN scope of practice and allow RNs to continue to work in collaborative practice to support sustainable health-care delivery for Manitobans. The RHPA supports our regulatory mandate to protect the public through quality registered nursing regulation." – Marie Edwards RN, President L-R: Colleen Mayer, MLA St. Vital; Marie Edwards, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba President; Kelvin Goertzen, Minister of Health, Seniors, Active Living S E P T. 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 : co-host education day on collective competence We were proud to partner with the other nursing colleges in Manitoba (the College of Licensed Practical Nurses and the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses) to host our annual education day. The theme was collective competence, a topic that is more relevant now than it has ever been. Lorelei Lingard was our keynote speaker and she brought a wealth of information and provoked thoughtful discussion about collaboration in health care. N O V. 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 : hosted our first Stakeholder Summit We spent a whole day with our stakeholders to continue the conversation on how we can best work together. We heard from health-care regulators, providers, organizations, associations, the public and more. We look forward to putting our shared ideas into action. D E C . 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 : first community reference group meeting The goal of this group is to provide us with meaningful linkage with the public. Of course, six people can't represent the entire population of Manitoba, but our hope is that they will serve as a type of ongoing focus group for issues or projects we are working on. They will provide us with their thoughts and recommendations on a variety of issues related to regulation, for example, the clarity of information on our website. R N s A R E I N V O LV E D I N A L L A S P E C T S O F H E A LT H C A R E . AT T H E E N D O F 2 0 1 7 W E H A D : M O M E N T S & M I L E S T O N E S : 26 Graduate Nurses 158 Non-Practicing Registrants 204 Nurse Practitioners 13,682 RNs crnm.mb.ca We are proud to regulate the profession to ensure Manitobans receive safe, competent and ethical registered nursing care. 48052 CRNM Free Press Half Page AD v1.indd 1 2018-04-26 10:06 AM WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 7 Public education campaigns surrounding the impending legalization of recreational marijuana could have a detrimental effect on studies of medical cannabis. Lynda Balneaves, researcher and associate professor at the University of Manitoba's College of Nursing, says educational programs being unveiled in anticipation of legalization are only increasing the stigma around the drug. "Cannabis is already quite stigmatized and it's going to take a long time for that to change. We've basically had over 100 years of prohibition," she explains. "The educational programs being developed across Canada are very much focused on the harmful aspects. It's been very difficult to do research on plant cannabis because of its illicit status in Canada." The stigmatization of the drug has also made patients hesitant to talk about it and doctors reluctant to authorize access to it, Balneaves adds. "Physicians have been very cautious in recommending or authorizing the use of cannabis, as we haven't had the studies done yet and physicians are accustomed to working with drugs that are evidence based." Even though Canada has had an official, federal medical-cannabis program since 2001, many patients have encountered barriers when trying to access the drug. Others have not been able to get the strains they felt were most helpful to their condition, or discovered the cannabis was of poor quality once they received it. "Some patients wanted the capacity to grow their own, and now, through court challenges, some are able to grow a small amount of plants to meet their medical needs," Balneaves says. Medical studies on the benefits of cannabis are still in the early stages, but already there have been some positive indicators. "A growing number of studies have started to suggest there is a role for cannabis with some individuals, especially those who haven't responded to traditional pharmaceuticals," Balneaves says. "It can mean an improved quality of life and less pain for those with multiple sclerosis, wounds, and certain types of cancer, and cannabis's high strains of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) may have a key role in easing pain and insomnia." While the jury is still out on the benefits of medical cannabis, almost everyone agrees it is safer than opioids. Balneaves says places where cannabis has been legalized are seeing a reduction in opioid prescriptions and opioid dependence. "We've focused a lot on looking at the access and affect on patients who are using medical cannabis. I'm hoping to get back to my roots of working at CancerCare Manitoba and hopefully moving forward with some clinical trials," she says. "Beginning trials suggest cannabis could extend life and possibly shrink tumours in patients with glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer)." Cannabis's affect on mental illness will be more difficult to quantify. Balneaves explains that those with illnesses like schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder may find their conditions worsen with cannabis use, while those with depression and anxiety could find it beneficial. "It's a double-edged sword. There's concern that cannabis can make some mental illnesses worse, especially if used daily and in high concentrations, but others report that it's helping." Balneaves hopes nurse practitioners will soon be able to authorize the use of medical cannabis for patients. However, she warns that people should avoid using cannabis, whether recreational or medicinal, until the brain has stopped developing. "Cannabis impacts the developing brain. The earlier it's used, the more impact it has on brain development. We recommend abstaining for as long as possible, until the age of 25." ✚ MARIJUANA AND MEDICINE LEGALIZATION MESSAGES COMPLICATE CANNABIS RESEARCH By Holli Moncrieff PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY RN and PhD Lynda Balneaves is a researcher and associate professor at the University Of Manitoba's College of Nursing. "BEGINNING TRIALS SUGGEST CANNABIS COULD EXTEND LIFE AND POSSIBLY SHRINK TUMOURS IN PATIENTS WITH GLIOBLASTOMA (A TYPE OF BRAIN CANCER)."

• Cover