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NATIONAL NURSING WEEK 2020 MAY 11-17, 2020 cna-aiic.ca
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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR NURSES NURSING THE WORLD TO HEALTH
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EVERY DAY HONOURING A MULTITUDE OF CRUCIAL ROLES IN HEALTH CARE DURING NATIONAL NURSING WEEK
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
“We take our direction from legislation and then we interpret that so it’s clear to the public what they can expect from registered nurses.” At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a call for individuals who had been registered nurses in the past to return to work. “As a college we made sure that the requirements for this level was a temporary registration,” Stansfield says. “But whether you’re working for four months or for 40 years, it’s still important that you are a safe and competent and ethical practitioner.” In the face of the pandemic, all nursing professions are engaged in frontline care. For Stansfield, it’s important to recognize all colleagues who work together — and not just the health-care providers. “There are also all the other people who are working so hard to keep the system going. Particularly in the pandemic, support workers play the very important role of keeping the environment clean, and that is not an easy job,” she says. “There are also people who are the cleaners, people who work in the cafeteria, and people who transport patients from one area to another safely. They are all part of an incredibly complex system that simply couldn’t function without any of those roles.”
to address shortages in both professions. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s abundantly clear that nurses should be celebrated for their essential role in protecting the health of our entire society. It’s time to express our appreciation for all the work that nurses do, and to do our part to ensure they are protected and supported in turn .
and delivery rooms. Registered nurses are everywhere.” In addition, RNs work in leadership and administrative roles as well as in education and research. “We have a chief nursing officer who is currently before the province every single day, providing guidance and helping to reassure,” Stansfield says, referring to Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer for Shared Health Manitoba. “She’s getting messages to Manitobans that the health-care system is in good hands.” As regulated health-care professionals, RNs complete a four-year baccalaureate or bachelor of nursing program, pass a national exam and meet additional requirements to maintain their licence. Nurse practitioners further their studies with a master’s degree followed by an exam. As of Dec. 31, 2019, Manitoba had a total of 13,617 registered nurses. Of those, 261 are nurse practitioners who are fully autonomous. The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba governs the profession in the public interest and sets the standard for education programs and conduct. “We’re empowered or authorized through the Regulated Health Professions Act,” Stansfield says.
N urses are always on the frontline in health care. From birth to palliative care, they’re the caregivers with whom we have closest contact — in the best of times and during the worst. Each year, nurses around the world are honoured during the week of May 12, a date chosen to coincide with the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. This year, National Nursing Week runs from Monday, May 11 to Sunday, May 17, with a focus on the apt theme Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health. This theme focuses attention on the many ways nurses are central to addressing a wide range of health challenges. At the same time, it’s meant to raise the profile of the profession — and hopefully attract the next generation of nurses. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the year will focus on their “enormous sacrifices and contributions” and on the need
COLLEGE OF REGISTERED NURSES OF MANITOBA
Some of the crucial roles that Manitoba’s registered nurses (RNs) perform are highly visible during the current pandemic, but they deserve recognition for contributions in every conceivable area of health care. “The roles that registered nurses play are as varied as you can possibly imagine. Most people think about the clinical roles that registered nurses play. Certainly, in the pandemic, that’s what we see but they can be working in so many different settings,” says Katherine Stansfield, CEO and registrar of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba. “They can be in the community doing prevention work or promoting health. In a pandemic, they might be doing screening or looking at the most vulnerable populations. There are nurses that work in long-term care, acute care, intensive care, and labour
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EACH YEAR, NURSES AROUND THE WORLD ARE HONOURED DURINGTHEWEEK OF MAY 12, A DATE CHOSENTO COINCIDEWITHTHE BIRTHDAY OF NURSING PIONEER FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
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in both Brandon and Winnipeg. Brandon University also offers a master of psychiatric nursing program, the only one of its kind in Canada. Currently, there are about 1,100 RPNs across the province. The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) is the regulatory body for the profession. It’s mandated by the provincial government and the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Act to carry out activities and govern members in a way that serves and protects the public interest. Tracy Thiele, RPN and CRPNM president, finds the career choice fulfilling because of the unique role psychiatric nurses play to increase attention and supports for mental health. “The best part of being an RPN is basing your career on communication, really listening to the individual’s needs, and knowing the trusting relationship that was established will help in the individual’s recovery,” she says. “I was looking for a challenging and dynamic career, and psychiatric nursing has provided both of those opportunities for me.” RPNs most often practice in collaborative environments where multiple providers from different professions work together to offer the highest quality of care. “During Nursing Week, we absolutely wish to acknowledge our registered nurse, nurse practitioner and licensed practical nurse colleagues — but we practise in the context of inter-professional teams so we feel it is really important to acknowledge all members of the health-care team,” Thiele says. “So during this Nursing Week, we would also like to say thank-you to everyone who shows up each and every day to provide care and services to the Manitobans that need our health system.” ✚
COLLEGE OF LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES OF MANITOBA Manitoba’s licensed practical nurses (LPNs) fulfill a multitude of roles in the health-care system while they care for people throughout their entire lifespan. LPNs play a critical role in a range of environments, including emergency rooms, acute care, long-term care, surgical units, community care, primary health, team management, education — and so much more. “All nurses, including LPNs, are the largest sector of health professionals so they play a pivotal role every day,” says Jennifer Breton, executive director of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM). “The criticality of their role is amplified right now as all nurses and all health-care professionals are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.” LPNs work autonomously but collaboratively with the entire team, Breton adds. “During this pandemic, it’s vital that we recognize not only the efforts of the regulated health-care professionals but all the other members of our team including housekeepers, people who work in laundry and maintenance staff,” she says. “The health system is interconnected, and the COVID-19 response demonstrates how adept the health-care teams are in Manitoba.” Currently, there are approximately 3,800 LPNs in Manitoba as well as about 400 student practical nurses. Their education involves a two-year college-level program that is offered at Assiniboine Community College, University College of the North and Université de Saint- Boniface. As the professional regulatory body, the
They focus on mental and developmental health, as well as mental illness and addictions. RPNs use biological and psychosocial models to provide a holistic approach to assessment and client care. In addition, RPNs act as educators, researchers and administrators in a variety of settings in both the private and public sectors. “Emotion, behaviour and cognition are a major focus in psychiatric nursing practice,” says Laura Panteluk, executive director of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba. COVID-19 is impacting mental health, which can sometimes be overlooked in the confusion of the pandemic, she adds. “Meeting the mental health and psychosocial needs of the population is the focus of our profession,” she says. “It is common for individuals to feel stressed and worried in a pandemic, and RPNs are sensitive to this and the significant challenges that people are experiencing.” Registered psychiatric nurses continue to provide care in a range of settings such as acute and recovery-oriented mental health services, addictions services and services that address the mental health needs of children and youth. They also work in other areas including long-term care, correctional environments and in the community. “How we are providing care during the pandemic might look a bit different, but our focus and commitment has not changed,” Panteluk says. For the past century, Manitoba’s psychiatric nurses have been educated as a distinct and separate profession from registered nurses. Manitoba’s approved program is the bachelor of science in psychiatric nursing program offered by Brandon University, with sites
CLPNM governs the practice of student practical nurses as well as graduate practical nurses and licensed practical nurses throughout the province. “We are going to need all of our graduates, and our students are still moving forward in our three schools. We are hoping to see a graduating class in late May or early June and then another one coming up in September,” Breton says. “A lot of them are out on practicum as scheduled, so the system has been doing a wonderful job of supporting that to happen. These students are almost done their program and they’re out there helping to the best of their ability. They’re doing a wonderful job too.” On behalf of the College, Breton extends gratitude to all LPNs and student practical nurses, as well as their facilitators, preceptors and the entire health-care team. “Nurses make a difference in the lives of patients and in entire populations. Now more than ever, it’s really clear to see the impact that nurses have on the physical, mental and emotional health of individuals and entire communities,” Breton says. “Nurses have the privilege of seeing people and helping people at their most vulnerable. Right now, it’s not just individuals who are vulnerable — it’s entire populations and communities. Given that nurses are the largest sector of health-care providers, it can be a fulfilling career choice to have that privilege.” COLLEGE OF REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES OF MANITOBA Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) form the single largest group of regulated mental health professionals in Manitoba.
Thank You Nurses Frontline Heroes
Uzoma Asagwara MLA for Union Station uzoma.asagwara@yourmanitoba.ca
Wab Kinew MLA for Fort Rouge wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca
Nello Altomare MLA for Transcona nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca
Diljeet Brar MLA for Burrows diljeet.brar@yourmanitoba.ca
Ian Bushie MLA for Keewatinook ian.bushie@yourmanitoba.ca
Nahanni Fontaine MLA for St. Johns nahanni.fontaine@yourmanitoba.ca
Danielle Adams MLA for Thompson danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca
Amanda Lathlin MLA for The Pas-Kameesak amanda.lathlin@yourmanitoba.ca
Tom Lindsey MLA for Flin Flon tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca
Malaya Marcelino MLA for Notre Dame malaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca
Jim Maloway MLA for Elmwood jim.maloway@yourmanitoba.ca
Jamie Moses MLA for St. Vital jamie.moses@yourmanitoba.ca
Lisa Naylor MLA for Wolseley lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca
Adrien Sala MLA for St. James adrien.sala@yourmanitoba.ca
Mintu Sandhu MLA for The Maples mintu.sandhu@yourmanitoba.ca
Matt Wiebe MLA for Concordia matt.wiebe@yourmanitoba.ca
Bernadette Smith MLA for Point Douglas bernadette.smith@yourmanitoba.ca
Mark Wasyliw MLA for Fort Garry mark.wasyliw@yourmanitoba.ca
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PROUD TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, TOGETHER WITH RNs.
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AS A COLLEGE WE:
INTHE MIDST OF THE CURRENT PANDEMIC, INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL MESSAGING THAT WAS ONCE A HARD SELL HAS NOW FOUND AN AUDIENCETHAT IS ALL EARS.
Regulate registered nursing practice in Manitoba Support RNs to provide safe, competent and ethical care Set standards for education, registration and practice Take action when the standards are not met
DIANE ROBSON, INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (IP&C) PROFESSIONAL AT ST. BONIFACE HOSPITAL,
AT THE END OF 2019 WE HAD:
PHOTO BY NATASHA WOLOSCHUK
10 Graduate Nurses
13,346 RNs
261 Nurse Practitioners
ALL (CLEAN) HANDS ON DECK PREVENTION IS HALFTHE BATTLE IN FIGHTING INFECTION
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BY MIKE DALY
This isn’t Diane Robson’s first rodeo. With more than 35 years of experience as an Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) Professional at St. Boniface Hospital, Robson is also a registered nurse. She has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, and a Master of Education, and she has worked her way through several infection control efforts and pandemics.
‘ I was around when we were worried about hepatitis B and hepatitis C, then HIV,” she says. “I was around for SARS, H1N1 influenza, the Ebola scare, and now it’s COVID-19.” Through them all, the goal was constant. “Our goal in Infection Prevention and Control is to try to prevent the transmission of organisms that have the potential to cause infections and disease in patients, staff and visitors when they are in the health-care environment,” Robson says. THE ROUTES TAKEN TO MEET THAT GOAL ARE VARIED, AND INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITEDTO): • education of staff, patients and the public • health care associated infection surveillance • development and review of operational directives, education
In the midst of the current pandemic, infection prevention and control messaging that was once a hard sell has now found an audience that is all ears. “You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who is not aware of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Robson says. “Everybody wants a bottle of hand sanitizer on their desk, and the response from health-care staff and the public has been impressive. Everyone seems to be trying to find out as much as they can. They want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem, and that’s terrific.” Robson encourages the public to maintain that level of vigilance and commitment to preventing the spread of infection, even after the pandemic ends. “We need all hands on deck,” Robson says. “It really is the whole community — health-care staff and the general public alike — that will make us successful. You have to have everyone onboard. If we can maintain our commitment to social distancing, hand hygiene and other preventative measures we will continue to see the infection curve plateau and eventually descend.” ✚
In addition to the infectious organisms themselves, the IP&C team is tasked with helping develop a germ-fighting ethos that helps prevent infection not only during a full-blown pandemic, but long after such a crisis passes. That means being able to “sell” the importance of preventative measures even when there are no outbreaks to keep them top-of-mind. “Prevention is somewhat of a hard sell because you are talking about things that haven’t happened yet,” Robson says. “Once an outbreak occurs, then people will get onboard more quickly or easily. We’ve seen this with the current pandemic; precautionary messages didn’t resonate as much as they should have until it became quite obvious that this was something that could affect everybody and that it was more pervasive than people may have initially thought.” That phenomenon is more instinctual than it is deliberate, Robson adds. “I think it’s human nature to let those things go to the back of your mind,” she says. “At IP&C, we’ve realized that we need to be out there, constantly promoting the message and connecting directly with the people we are trying to have an impact on, reminding them that they need to incorporate the things we’re talking about into all of their behaviours.”
Manitoba Association of Foot Care Nurses
MB Primary Care Nurses, Care to Make a Difference We serve you in primary health care settings, family practice and community health clinics all over Manitoba!
Our goal: empower you to be your healthiest, avoid illness and injury, and avoid needing the hospital.
Here are some ways we support your health care:
• Support healthy pregnancies, early childhood development, and provide immunizations
• Give information and connect you with community resources • Help manage or resolve acute & chronic health problems • Promote health and well-being • Collaborate with various practitioners and specialists to customize care
• Care for sexually transmitted infections, reproductive and sexual health; operate Teen Clinics and more!
packages, and standard operating procedures • outbreak management
• facility design, renovation and construction where appropriate • product and equipment review and evaluation • Medical Device Reprocessing • auditing and reporting
Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority .
OUR TEAM IS EXPANDING: ARE YOU A PRIMARY CARE NURSE? Come join our team to empower our professional community through education, networking and advocacy events! Visit us at www.mpcna.ca or https://www.facebook.com/MPCNA
We serve Manitobans of all ages! Primary care nursing: Want to learn more?
Thank You Every day, Manitoba’s nurses provide quality care for us and our loved ones. Through demanding times, our province sees your dedication. Thank you for your commitment to providing care for Manitobans. National Nursing Week
204.945.3709 pccaucus@leg.gov.mb.ca
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COMMUNITY SERVICE KLINIC NURSE SPECIALIZES IN WRAP-AROUND CARE
BY MIKE DALY
It would be easy to chalk up Molly Brett’s enthusiasm for Klinic Community Health to the last six years she has spent working there as a practical care nurse. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find that her association with the landmark Portage Avenue community health clinic is more than an accident of employment. ‘ I accessed Klinic services as a teenager; that’s what kind of got me in the door, but once I learned about the variety of services and what the agency was as a often lack — the ability to develop an ongoing relationship with clients. “When you work in a facility where you’re seeing a patient for an acute concern, that person is going to move on and you don’t always have the ability to follow their care for an extended period of time. The
whole, that’s what hooked me in. I started volunteering with Klinic when I was 18, first at the Teen Clinic, and then with the sexual assault crisis program as a volunteer counsellor,” Brett says. “I worked at the front desk, and as a medical assistant when I was in nursing school, so I’ve been around here for a while.” With an ethos firmly rooted in the principles of social justice, Klinic provides a wide range of health-related services, from medical care to counselling and education. It serves a wide swath of Winnipeg’s downtown, working with clients of every age, ethnicity, gender identity, and socio- economic circumstance. WITH AN ETHOS FIRMLY ROOTED INTHE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, KLINIC PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES, FROM MEDICAL CARE TO COUNSELLING AND EDUCATION. Services are provided by a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, primary care nurses, social workers, dietitians, medical assistants and community workers. “Our goal is to work together to provide clients with wrap-around care,” Brett says. Primary care, like Klinic provides, is focused on “more of a prevention and education lens than an acute care perspective.” It’s a holistic approach to care that she says “meets clients where they’re at,” with a no-judgment model that works to address not only a client’s medical needs, but also the various social factors that impact their care and well-being. “For instance, we may have a client with minor health-care needs, but their biggest challenge may be that they have unstable housing. Or they might say, ‘I need help managing my high blood pressure, but I don’t have money to buy myself food.’ Some of those social issues can play a large role in their health. Our team works together to help them address those challenges so that we can better meet their health-care needs. Looking at a person and their circumstances as a whole is our ultimate goal.” Brett notes that working at a community health clinic offers her something that nurses working in acute care facilities
luxury of being attached to somebody’s primary health care (in a community clinic) is that I get to follow that person, and I get to see what’s going on. A week from now, I can call them and check in and say, ‘Hey, when we were talking about this last week, I tried to get you hooked up with a social worker and they were going to call you. Did that happen? Are we still concerned about what’s going on? Did you feel your needs were met, or is there something more we can do?’ We have the ability to follow people through that process.” Ordinarily, Brett is also able to offer her patients access to a number of Klinic’s ongoing services, such as crisis support, in-person counselling, and support groups. These include the facility’s Life in Balance Program, which promotes emotional and physical wellness through a variety of activities that include meditation as well as sleep, nutrition and coping strategies. Many of these and other Klinic programs — such as auricular acupuncture (useful as a complementary treatment for people struggling with addictions, anxiety, chronic pain and trauma-related symptoms), mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindful self-compassion and yoga — have been temporarily suspended as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 . “However, all of Klinic’s counselling services remain open, which includes our crisis lines and ‘drop-in’ counselling, which is now being completed over the phone,” Brett says. “Klinic’s doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses are also still in the office working, trying to provide as much care as we can over the phone, with the ability to see folks in the office as needed.” With respect to the pandemic, Brett says that while Klinic is not directly engaged in COVID-19 testing or treatment, clients are expressing some concern. “We definitely have had folks calling in with questions,” she says. “We’re referring testing-specific questions to Health Links – Info Santé, and are doing our best to help reduce client anxiety. We understand that anxiety, because we’re feeling it, too. We’re all in this together.” ✚
Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
MOLLY BRETT, PRACTICAL CARE NURSE, KLINIC COMMUNITY HEALTH. PHOTO BY NATASHA WOLOSCHUK
Thank you to all Manitoba nurses for leading healthcare efforts during this unprecedented International Year of the Nurse & Midwife.
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COVID-19 IS NEVER FAR FROMTHE MINDS OF THOSE WORKING IN THE UNIT, HOWEVER, OR FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALL OF WHOM ARE BEING ASKED TO ADJUSTTO A NEW REALITY. - MICHELLE LOEPPKY
MICHELLE LOEPPKY, CLINICAL RESOURCE NURSE, ST. BONIFACE HOSPITAL’S INTEN- SIVE CARE CARDIAC SCIENCES UNIT. PHOTO BY NATASHA WOLOSCHUK
QUALITY CARE IN A CRISIS CARDIAC UNIT NURSESTAKE PANDEMIC RESPONSETO HEART
BY MIKE DALY
relief for family members, so they can see the patient is OK.” That contact, though indirect by necessity, does wonders. “A lot of times, family members haven’t really encountered intensive care before, so it’s usually a pretty scary time for them,” Loeppky says. “We can help them appreciate the path of a patient through intensive care and help them to understand that, although [the patient] is on life support, this may be just a temporary measure we need to take.” While these are unprecedented times that can be scary, it reinforces the need for caring communication and support, traits for which nurses are well-known. “Nurses have always been an important part of the health-care system. We are the folks that spend the most time with patients. That part of things has not changed,” Loeppky says. “The pandemic has shed a light on the importance of the work we do,” she says. “Our skill set is unique, and we are able to help people in a way others can’t. So this is a moment where nurses really shine. It’s a wonderful profession.” ✚ * Clinical Resource Nursing is a leadership role responsible for the coordination of nursing services, the flow of patients within an area of the health-care system, patient safety, and for serving as a resource for nursing staff. Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority .
procedures such intubation that might place staff and patients at higher risk of infection, as well as more general steps to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. “The intent is to protect the patient, so there’s an added focus to wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), washing our hands, and all those other precautions you hear on the news and on TV.” The use and importance of PPE predates recent events, Loeppky adds, but has been reinforced in these days of pandemic. “We’ve had a lot of conversations about wearing PPE; making sure that we’re familiar with the requirements and that we’re using it properly. It’s been a lot of reiterating the education that we’ve had, having those conversations, calming fears a little bit. That has been a regular part of our work in recent weeks, for sure.” Another regular part of work in the ICCS — keeping the families of patients informed — has taken a new twist with the use of video chat technology. “They can’t be in the hospital at this time, but they still very much need to be part of the process,” Loeppky says. “We’ve implemented a formal process for communicating with family members that identifies a family liaison to help develop a communication plan to provide medical updates and ensure patient and family needs are met through teleconferencing or videoconferencing with the health-care team. It provides a great
as respiratory therapists, health-care aides, or dietitians, to name a few.” While Loeppky and other members of the ICCS nursing team may not be caring for COVID-19 patients directly, they remain important players in the hospital’s fight against the virus. To allow other staff members to care for patients with COVID-19, Loeppky and her colleagues have branched out beyond cardiac care to treat patients with serious health conditions that are not related to COVID-19. As in other facilities, the unit’s surgical slate was reduced to accommodate the change. COVID-19 is never far from the minds of those working in the unit, however, or for patients and their families, all of whom are being asked to adjust to a new reality. “It’s out there and everyone is thinking about it,” Loeppky says. “It’s important when the public is dealing with something like this that we’re ready and able to take care of our patients. It boils down to being prepared and making sure we’re familiar with what we need to do to protect patients and to protect ourselves so that we can continue to provide the quality patient care that the public relies on.” For nurses and other health-care professionals in the ICCS, that means strict adherence to safety procedures. “Hospital leadership has done a good job of helping us focus our procedures and protocols to maximize the safety of patients and our fellow health-care workers,” Loeppky says. These include enhanced precautions for
Under normal circumstances, St. Boniface Hospital’s Intensive Care Cardiac Sciences unit (ICCS) is focused solely on the care of critically ill patients with a heart issue. But, like so many other facets of life these days, the unit’s definition of “normal” has had to change with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. M ichelle Loeppky has felt this change over the last number of months in her leadership role as a Clinical Resource Nurse on the unit, as she supports the care team with questions that extend beyond cardiac care. “Most of my day is spent working with the nurses at the bedside to make sure they have what they need to perform their tasks,” Loeppky says. “At certain times, that might be helping to answer questions, guiding them in a certain clinical direction, discussing with physicians any concerns the nurses might have, or liaising with other professionals on the health-care team, such
Jim Carr MP, Winnipeg South Centre
Dan Vandal MP, Saint-Boniface - Saint-Vital
Terry Duguid MP, Winnipeg South
Kevin Lamoureux MP, Winnipeg North
Thank you to all the nurses who continue to care and show compassion under difficult circumstances.
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Nursing the World to Health
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BY MIKE DALY
There’s nothing like a great performance to elevate a long-time supporting player to sudden stardom .
ANSWERING THE CALLS PANDEMIC THRUSTS HEALTH LINKS – INFO SANTÉ INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
T hat’s certainly been the case for Health Links – Info Santé, the flagship program of the Provincial Health Contact Centre at Misericordia Health Centre. Established in 1997 as the first bilingual phone-based nursing triage system in Canada, Health Links – Info Santé is available to all Manitobans, operating around-the-clock, 365 days of the year. In 2019, its team of registered nurses answered more than 117,000 calls for medical assessment and advice on everything from flu symptoms to feverish children to heart attacks — all without much in the way of public recognition or fanfare. ESTABLISHED IN 1997 ASTHE FIRST BILINGUAL PHONE-BASED NURSING TRIAGE SYSTEM IN CANADA, HEALTH LINKS – INFO SANTÉ IS AVAILABLE TO ALL MANITOBANS, OPERATING
with additional registered nurses working to handle all other health concerns. By adding staff, and with the addition of an online self-assessment tool, initially high wait times were quickly reduced. Today, COVID-19-related calls are typically completed in less than five minutes with a minimal wait. “It’s certainly not business as usual, but we are adapting, which is what you have to do in all forms of nursing,” Marion says. “We’re doing our best and working together to get people through the system as efficiently as possible.” Asked how Health Links – Info Santé’s staff is holding up under the increased demand for their services, Marion is quick to credit their efforts and dedication. “In general, we’re all doing quite well,” she says. “We’re here to do a job and to serve the public. Of course, we have our own fears and anxiety, and we’re not immune to what’s going on in the world. We have families to worry about, and we worry about each other. This is our second home and our second family, so we’re trying our best to navigate and to serve the public in the best way we can.” Providing factual information is a key element in that effort. “You can’t weigh the importance of something like that,” Marion says. “When misinformation is spread around and taken seriously, that can drastically skew the way that people are responding to a very serious situation. So facts are extremely important, to ensure that people can take the proper precautions and steps to protect themselves, their families, and everybody else around them. “The anxiety and the fear takes over in many situations where [callers] hear of a positive case, or they were in a place where there was a positive case, and it’s an automatic that they think they are going to test positive and get very sick,” Marion says. “A lot of people feel they should be tested or everyone should be tested regardless of whether they have symptoms. But, as a health system, we have to stagger our approach to prioritize those at highest risk. We’re following public health recommendations for who should and shouldn’t be tested.” Marion says that, for the most part, callers have been respectful of, and thankful for, the information they receive from the Health Links – Info Santé team. ✚ As well, Health Links – Info Santé offers other public health services such as the Breastfeeding Hotline (204-788-8667), Dial-a-Dietitian and West Nile virus, rabies and influenza support. To contact Health Links – Info Santé, phone 204-788-8200 or toll-free 1-888-315-9257. Wondering if you should be tested for COVID-19? Take the free Manitoba COVID-19 self-assessment online at sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/ screening-tool or by phone at 1-877-308-9038.
AROUND-THE-CLOCK, 365 DAYS OFTHEYEAR.
LINDSAY MARION, A REGISTERED NURSE AND ONE OF HEALTH LINKS – INFO SANTÉ’S SIXTEAM LEADERS. PHOTO BY NATASHA WOLOSCHUK
Today, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Links – Info Santé has been thrust into the spotlight, with call volumes increasing from an average of 350 a day to more than 2,000 calls a day from Manitobans looking for credible information and advice. “There’s lots of anxiety, there’s lots of fear, which is completely understandable,” says Lindsay Marion, a registered nurse and one of Health Links – Info Santé’s six Team Leaders. “We do our best to try to curb some of that anxiety by providing credible information and by assessing whether callers meet the criteria to be tested — and, if they don’t, by telling callers what they need to be doing to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.”
As it did in years past in response to public health emergencies such as floods, the West Nile virus, and 2009’s H1N1 influenza outbreak, Health Links – Info Santé quickly ramped up its staffing and call capacity to deal with greatly increased demand. New COVID-19 screeners, including nursing students completing their practicums, were added, along
Health Links – Info Santé at a glance:
HEALTH LINKS – INFO SANTÉ (misericordia.mb.ca/programs/ phcc/health-links-info-sante/) is a provincial service offering health information, symptom assessment, triage, care advice and education year-round, 24 hours a day, with service in more than 100 languages available through over-the-phone interpreters. Health Links – Info Santé nurses also provide general health information and help callers find health resources in local communities across Manitoba.
Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority .
green.eps; Customer is responsible for accuracy
T Thorvaldson Care Center An Intermediate Care Facility for Seniors 495 Stradbrook Ave. • Winnipeg Please call for more information or to arrange a tour Jocelyn Thorvaldson (204) 452-4044 (weekdays) www. thorcare.ca E-mail: thorcare@shaw.ca Over 60 years of caring for Seniors!
What does Intermediate Personal Care offer? • 24 hour care / supervision by Health Care Aides • Registered Nurse on-site (weekdays) • Medications, inhalers, eyedrops are administered • Monitored blood sugar / blood pressure • Bloodwork, Xray services • Medical appts / transportation arranged • Assist with bathing (complete assist), dressing, hygiene • Assist with catheters / oxygen • Private, bedsitting room with bathroom • Two nurse call buttons in each suite • Three home-cooked meals per day plus snacks • Housekeeping (daily), Laundry (personal and linens) • Accredited Activity Director & Recreation Programs
Thorvaldson Care Center is a government approved, family owned and operated Intermediate Care facility providing care to seniors since 1959. We offer a moderately sized, non-institutional environment with professional services to meet the needs of those in the later stages of life. ‘Intermediate’ personal care is provided to those who are no longer able to manage/cope in their current living situation due to increasing needs, yet are not quite ready for placement in a Personal Care Home. Thorvaldson Care Center is the only Intermediate Care facility in Manitoba.
Thank you to the hardworking and dedicated Nurses!
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MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 11-17, 2020
Nursing the World to Health
Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek
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QUALITY CARE AT HOME PROGRAM SERVES CLIENTS IN THEIR COMFORT ZONES
BY MIKE DALY
Most of us dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic have been scrupulously following advice to not allow visitors into our homes. But for a number of clients of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s (WRHA) Home Care program, Jay Barayuga’s presence is a reassuring and necessary sight.
A s a Visiting Nurse with the program for the past three years, Barayuga conducts ongoing health assessments, ensuring that his clients are coping well within their homes. He also helps ensure that family members or caregivers have the support they need within the health- care system. Established in 1974, the WRHA’s Home Care program helps people live at home and remain independent for as long as possible, thereby avoiding or delaying the need for admission into hospitals or long-term care facilities. To be eligible for Home Care, individuals must be a Manitoba resident, registered with Manitoba Health, require health services or assistance with activities of daily living, require service to remain safely in their homes, and require more assistance than is available from existing supports and community resources. “The importance of Home Care is that nurses provide care in the clients’ homes, where they are most comfortable, where they are at lower risk of infection, and where, I think [and evidence shows], they heal faster. They are in their comfort zone, basically,” Barayuga says. “We deal with clients in all aspects of their life and care,” he says. “We don’t go there just to complete a task; we assess and look at the bigger picture. What’s going on with the client? Do they need help from other health-care experts? If so, that’s the time that we coordinate and collaborate with other members of the health-care team.” Those other resources can include dietitians, nurse specialists, and occupational and physiotherapists. The Home Care team also helps keep the client’s physician up-to-date about how the client’s care is progressing. The challenges and rewards of
the job provided ample incentive for Barayuga to make the move from a previous job as a nurse in a personal- care home. “I find that in Home Care, I have autonomy,” he says. “My job maximizes my critical thinking skills. I have to evaluate whether my interventions are working or not. If I find the interventions aren’t working, then I have to re-evaluate, re-assess and change my interventions to achieve the care goals for the client.” Working day or evening shifts, Barayuga sees an average of 12 clients per day, or up to 21 clients if he is working in a large seniors’ residence such as Lions Manor or Lions Place. In either case, he says his clients are happy to see him. “Sometimes they live at home all by themselves, and the only people they get to talk to are Home Care staff. They are able to have a discussion about how they feel, and it helps them to have someone take the time to listen.” Providing that kind of client care and satisfaction is also rewarding to Home Care staff. “When the client is appreciative of the care we are providing, it’s gratifying,” Barayuga says. “If we see clients who heed our health advice and we see that, for example, they are diabetic and are adhering to their diet and effectively managing their use of insulin, it makes us happy and makes it easier for us to help them achieve their health-care targets.” For Barayuga, it all adds up to a simple recipe for success. “Success is when you are happy in what you are doing. And I’m very happy supporting my clients in Home Care. I think the most rewarding part of my job is making a difference in other people’s lives and putting a smile on their faces. That’s priceless.” ✚
To the caring, hard-working, dedicated NURSES who have been serving patients so tirelessly during COVID-19. WE THANK YOU.
Prov.ca
IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL NURSING WEEK, the CLPNM would like to recognize LPNs for their contribution to the health and wellness of all Manitobans, and for their unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care and comfort to all during this particularly uncertain time.
The CLPNM is the regulatory body that governs the practice of student practical nurses, graduate practical nurses, and licensed practical nurses in Manitoba.
JAY BARAYUGA IS A VISITING NURSE WITH WINNIPEG REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY’S (WRHA) HOME CARE PROGRAM.
During these extraordinary times, we are more grateful than ever for the compassion and care of Manitoba Nurses. THANK YOU!
Jon Gerrard
Dougald Lamont MLA for St. Boniface
Cindy Lamoureux
PHOTO BY NATASHA WOLOSCHUK
Visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/homecare/guide.pdf to find more information about Home Care in Manitoba .
MANITOBA LIBERALS
MLA for Tyndall Park
MLA for River Heights
Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
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MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 11-17, 2020
Nursing the World to Health
Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek
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“WE ALL KNOW AS CAREGIVERS THAT IFWE DON’TTAKE CARE OF OURSELVES,WE CAN’T EFFECTIVELY AND ADEQUATELY PROVIDE FOR OTHERS.” - MARY SMITH, ARNM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
STRONGER TOGETHER NURSES ASSOCIATION ADOPTS OPEN-MEMBERSHIP POLICY
REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES
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.
BY WENDY KING
A name change is a game changer for many Manitoba nurses. As of May 1, the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba will be known as the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM), to reflect a broad change of membership, following the lead of the Canadian Nurses Association.
The CRPNM is the regulatory body for the psychiatric nursing profession in Manitoba crpnm.mb.ca
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Prepare for your nursing career en français… and expand your employment opportunities! • Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (Bachelor of Nursing) • Diplôme en sciences infirmières auxiliaires (Diploma in Practical Nursing) oui! SUCCESS BEGINS HERE
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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020
MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 11-17, 2020
Nursing the World to Health
Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek
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‘ I ’m really excited to share that part of our mandate is changing and expanding because our members voted to open membership to all nursing designations, including LPNs (licensed practical nurses), nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses,” says Mary Smith, ARNM’s executive director. “It really is a historical achievement for nursing in Manitoba and as a nurse with 42 years’ experience, I’m thrilled.” ARNM was founded in response to the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba’s 2014 shift to a strictly regulatory mandate. It supports and empowers nurses and health leaders in all settings, including clinical practice, community care, acute care, long- term care, administration, education, research and public policy. “The goal of that mandate is to advance the profession of nursing and to advocate for improving health outcomes for people living in Manitoba,” says Smith. It is an extraordinary coincidence that months before the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization had declared the year 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The ARNM had to shift its focus from promotion to further supporting nurses and providing key connections to information they need. One example is the new weekly online forum Talk Tuesday, which brings nurses from across the province together for a facilitated talk about common issues and questions. Wellness Matters is an ongoing program
dedicated to personal well-being. “We all know as caregivers that if we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t effectively and adequately provide for others,” she says. “So we really want to add those resources and supports so that nurses can gain personal benefits.” ARNM supports all aspects of nursing excellence, including leadership, professional development, and advocacy. Nurses are required to maintain continuing competency as part of their certificate of practice. The association provides those opportunities and resources with experts in various areas of research and specialties. A frequent question Smith hears is how can people support nurses at this time. “Stay home. Maintain social distancing. Wash your hands! If you have symptoms or if you have concerns, use the self-assessment and access Manitoba Health and the Manitoba Government for health resources, they are absolutely excellent. “We are doing a good job flattening the curve, so let’s keep those numbers low so that our health-care providers aren’t getting sick.” Smith says nurses are also concerned about families and individuals at risk in the community. “Nurses would very much appreciate support for those populations that are truly having struggles, by donating to food banks and remembering the soup kitchens that are still trying to work to keep these communities well-supported.”
Right now, there are nurses at the community level who continue to do screening and contact tracing. These are the nurses who also work “upstream.” “When we talk about upstream, we’re talking about pre-disease, pre-illness, pre- infection and that’s the work of community nursing,” says Smith. “If we can invest more upstream, I believe we will really be able to help keep flattening these curves so that when we do have other epidemics and outbreaks, we will be able to manage them effectively.” Community nursing is where Smith spent most of her career and she says studies show that every dollar spent upstream results in savings multiplied from seven to 10 times downstream. She says nurses would like to see the public asking for more health and wellness promotion through activities, systems and public health nurses or health promotion facilitators. For now, the primary focus is on getting everybody through the pandemic as safely as possible. “Our profession is composed of highly educated and skilled women and men with a unique body of knowledge, who are very well prepared and committed to respond to this pandemic as part of an interdisciplinary team in collaboration with other health professionals,” says Smith. “In this International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, instead of celebrating our contributions, the pandemic has become a platform to clearly demonstrate to the world the critical importance of nurses in our society.” ✚
“IN THIS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OFTHE NURSE AND MIDWIFE, INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING OUR CONTRIBUTIONS,THE PANDEMIC HAS BECOME A PLATFORMTO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLDTHE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF NURSES IN OUR SOCIETY.”
- MARY SMITH, ARNM’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
Proud to Support Manitoba’s Nurses and Health-Care Workers
As the primary educator of health-care workers in this province, we’re also proud to have played a part in helping prepare them for that fight. Our graduates fill vital roles on the front lines of Manitoba’s health-care system, working tirelessly to keep our families and communities safe.
Are you interested in joining their ranks? Apply now for Fall 2020 entry to a number of full- and part-time programs in the health sciences. You’ll gain the skills and expertise to provide quality health care — now, and for generations to come.
Red River College is grateful for the invaluable contributions made by Manitoba’s nurses and health-care workers, and for the courage and compassion they’ve shown as they fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
rrc.ca/healthsciences
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