National Nursing Week | 2021

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS | SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | VIEW ONLINE AT winnipegfreepress.com/publications

NATIONAL NURSING WEEK 2021 MAY 10-16, 2021 cna-aiic.ca

Leanora Braun BSc., RNBN, CMSN(c), Community Infection Control Professional. #W

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STILL ANSWERING THE CALL DURING NATIONAL NURSING WEEK, TAKE TIME TO SHOW RESPECT AND GRATITUDE

COLLEGE OF LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES OF MANITOBA Manitoba’s licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have the broadest scope of practice across Canada, which enables them to work in diverse settings, including medical or surgical units; emergency departments; and labour, delivery and post-partum units. You’ll also find LPNs working in community health, personal care homes, pediatric units, rehabilitation units and dialysis units. Their practice also extends to home care, occupational health, private care, schools and child-care centres, as well as self-employed roles such as nursing foot care or private duty nursing. “Manitoba LPNs care for clients across the lifespan whose care needs may vary in complexity, predictability and stability, and within a range of practice environments,” says Jennifer Breton, executive director of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba. “Members of the practical nursing profession practise both autonomously and collaboratively with other members of the health-care team. In all practice contexts, LPNs are responsible and accountable for their own practice.” LPNs are nurses who have typically graduated from a two-year college-based diploma program in Manitoba or from a program in another jurisdiction that provides equivalent competencies. Applicants must also meet criteria for registration as an LPN. In Manitoba, three educational institutions offer the approved two-year diploma program: Assiniboine Community College, Université de Saint-Boniface and University College of the North.

BY JENNIFER MCFEE I t’s been a year like no other, and nurses have risen far above the call of duty to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Even in less challenging times, nurses are there when we need them. They’re by our side at every stage of life, from first breath to last, during our most exhilarating moments and our most heart- wrenching. Nurses leave an indelible mark on the people in their care, and on patients’ families, through their crucial health-care roles. All around the world, nurses are honoured each year during the week of May 12, which coincides with nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale’s birthday. 2021 also marks the 50th anniversary of the International Council of Nurses’ designation of May 12 as International Nurses Day. The theme for this year’s National Nursing Week — Monday, May 10 through Sunday, May 16 — is #WeAnswerTheCall, developed by the Canadian Nurses Association to highlight the multitude of roles nurses play in health care. Over the past year, the pandemic has highlighted the deep commitment and courage nurses demonstrate in essential roles. Many have even returned from retirement to offer their skills on the frontlines and behind the scenes. To show appreciation, it’s worth taking the time to write a personal thank-you note to a nurse, or share stories of those who have made an impact. If you post a story on social media, be

sure to tag it #IKnowANurse. National Nursing Week offers the ideal opportunity to show gratitude for nurses’ contributions and to strive to ensure they are protected in their profession. COLLEGE OF REGISTERED NURSES OF MANITOBA Registered nurses (RNs) are highly visible on the frontlines of the pandemic, but their reach extends into every area of the health-care system. Katherine Stansfield, CEO and registrar of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, describes a registered nurse as a highly educated, self-regulated health professional who works autonomously and collaboratively in a number of roles. “A registered nurse’s practice includes assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care of individuals, families, communities and populations in all stages of health and wellness, and at all levels of growth and development, to assist them to achieve their health goals,” she says. “Registered nurses work in inter-professional teams, applying their unique knowledge, skill and judgment in all clinical settings, as well as in education, research and administration.” A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who works autonomously with individuals and families, while also contributing to the inter- professional team of health-care providers. “A nurse practitioner’s practice includes assessing and diagnosing the health status of individuals, ordering diagnostic tests and interventions, planning treatment including prescribing medications and appliances, evaluating care and consulting as required

with other members of the health-care team,” Stansfield says. As of Jan. 1, 2021, Manitoba had a total of 12,538 registered nurses, with 263 nurse practitioners. In Manitoba, RNs complete a baccalaureate nursing program. Nurse practitioners continue their studies to complete a master’s program as well, and both RNs and nurse practitioners must pass a licensing exam and meet additional requirements to maintain their licence. In Stansfield’s view, registered nursing is a fulfilling career choice because it offers breadth and depth of opportunities to make a meaningful impact on peoples’ lives. “RNs meet people where they are — in their homes, places of work, community — and help them meet their health goals, whatever they are. They often interact with people at the most vulnerable times of their lives and, for that, they have earned universal trust and respect,” she says. “They are highly skilled, adept at critical thinking to solve problems that may seem insurmountable. The skills and judgment of RNs, combined with compassion and empathy, have made them a cornerstone of the health-care system.” RNs are dedicated, resourceful and resilient health-care practitioners., she adds. “They have been showcased during this pandemic as heroes and sometimes as angels, a depiction that often feels uncomfortable,” she says. “I believe the pandemic has highlighted that as a profession, RNs are accountable, safe, ethical and compassionate practitioners — a very high standard that the public can count on.”

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Celebrating National Nursing Week

Thanking all Manitoba nurses for their hard work and dedication. Manitobans are forever grateful for your service!

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answered the call by actively taking part in the robust regulation of the profession for the good of the public.” COLLEGE OF REGISTERED PSYCHIATRIC NURSES OF MANITOBA Mental health has been a top-of-mind topic during the pandemic, which makes the work of registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) even more crucial. “While meeting the mental health and psychosocial needs of the population is the primary focus of the profession, we are also educated as nurses. We recognize the impact that COVID-19 can have on the physical and mental health of Manitobans. We recognize that people feel scared, worried and vulnerable,” says Laura Panteluk, executive director and registrar of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba. “During a pandemic, the landscape in health- care delivery is constantly changing. Registered psychiatric nurses in leadership positions have taken on roles with COVID-19 planning and operations, bringing a different approach to communication and team-building possibilities.” In addition, RPNs have answered the call by shifting the way care is delivered, Panteluk adds. They’ve taken on the challenges of redeployment and stepped up to provide immunizations and contact tracing. “Some retired RPNs have returned to practice to provide pandemic-related services. Whether they were required to shift to virtual care or to

practise in a different setting or in a different role, Manitoba RPNs have been steadfast in their commitment to communication, relationships and trauma-informed care and their focus on mental health, well-being and recovery,” she says. “Mental health will be affected in multiple ways during and after the pandemic. RPNs will continue to play a key role in supporting Manitobans and the stabilization of the system and in helping communities to recuperate and heal in the months and years to come.” As one of Manitoba’s regulated nursing professions, RPNs work with clients whose primary care needs relate to mental health, addictions and neurodevelopmental disabilities. “Their education and experience prepare registered psychiatric nurses to recognize the complex relationship between emotional, developmental, physical and mental health — as well as the role that social factors, culture and spirituality play in illness and recovery,” Panteluk says.

“Manitoba’s registered psychiatric nurses are professionals who are specifically educated to help individuals, families, groups and communities achieve the highest possible level of mental health.” The diversity of practice attracts many people to the profession. “Registered psychiatric nurses provide acute and recovery-oriented mental health and addiction services where people are at — whether that be in a hospital, a long-term care facility, a school, a correctional environment, the community or on the streets,” Panteluk says. “In addition to providing services that focus on mental-health promotion, illness prevention and treatment across the lifespan, registered psychiatric nurses practise as educators, researchers and administrators in a wide variety of settings from hospitals to industry and from the private to the public sector.” For more than 20 years, Brandon University has provided psychiatric nursing education. However, Manitoba has educated psychiatric nurses as a distinct and separate profession for an entire century. “The profession is celebrating 100 years of psychiatric nursing education in Manitoba this year,” Panteluk says. “We wish to extend Nursing Week greetings to our registered nurse, nurse practitioner and licensed practical nurse colleagues and to thank our nursing and other health-care colleagues for the care they provide to Manitobans each day — and for all that they have done to support Manitoba’s pandemic response.”

“LPNs are educated from the same body of knowledge as other nurses. LPNs also apply the same framework in their practice as other nursing professionals — assessment, diagnosis/ determination, planning implementation, evaluation,” she says. “After graduating, LPNs acquire additional depth and breadth in their nursing knowledge, skills and judgments over the span of their careers through additional formal and informal education, and through practical experience.” Currently, Manitoba has 3,700 practising LPNs, making them the second largest group of regulated health professionals in the province. In keeping with this year’s National Nursing Week theme of “We Answer the Call,” LPNs have continued to step up during the pandemic. “Like all other health-care professionals, LPNs have persevered through extraordinarily challenging circumstances to deliver high quality nursing care to Manitobans across the province during this past year,” Breton says. At the same time, the profession is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2021. “It has been over 75 years since Manitoba LPNs became a regulated profession. Manitoba’s LPN profession was the first practical nursing profession in North America to be regulated, the first practical nurse profession to be granted the privilege of self-regulation and the first practical nurse profession to be authorized as autonomous practitioners,” Breton says. “For over 75 years, Manitoba’s LPNs have

YOUR CAREER IN NURSING Education en français

The role of the nurse has never been more important or more visible than in the past year. Nurses have responded and gone where they were needed most, and not only provided much needed care for clients, patients and residents, but also played the role of family member and friend, supporting them through some of the most dicult days of their lives. Thank you nurses for providing extraordinary care in extraordinary circumstances.

Increased employment opportunities

• Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (Bachelor of Nursing) • Diplôme en sciences infirmières auxiliaires (Diploma in Practical Nursing)

#WeAnswerTheCall

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ustboniface.ca

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cna-aiic.ca A VALUABLE VOICE IN HEALTH CARE RELY ON HIGHLY EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS, NURSES, TO BRING POSITIVE CHANGE

“The pandemic has highlighted the chronic underfunding and staffing in settings such as long-

BY JENNIFER MCFEE T he pandemic has shone a light on the important role nurses play in every area of the health-care system. Cheryl Cusack, executive director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM), says the past year has truly demonstrated how nurses “answer the call.” “The world has changed dramatically since the introduction of COVID-19. Nurses have demonstrated that they are highly educated and adaptable professionals, equipped to be at the forefront of this pandemic. Nurses not only face the risk of COVID-19 but constant change,” she says. “They are doing what is needed, adapting and, when necessary, quickly learning new skills. Nursing students continue to be educated and graduate, while practising nurses have been innovative and are often delivering services in new ways to meet public needs. So nurses have stepped up in a big way to answer the call.” The ARNM represents more than 9,600 licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, graduate nurses, nursing students and former nurses in roles from direct care to management. “The association is the professional voice of nurses in Manitoba,” Cusack says. “We support nurses to be empowered health leaders across

from the profession,” Cusack says. “This pandemic is like nothing that has ever been experienced before, and a comprehensive recovery plan will be necessary to promote the mental health and wellness of nurses and other health-care professionals.” Cusack draws attention to a report published by the Canadian Nurses Association titled Regulated nursing in Canada: The landscape in 2021. The conclusion states that “the best- educated generation of nurses in history is locked in roles and functions defined decades ago that underuse the intellectual capital of the entire nursing workforce.” “I was struck by this sentence … and am hopeful that if there is anything positive to learn from the pandemic, it is the critical roles that nurses play,” Cusack says. “Change is needed in our health-care system. The voice of nurses as health professionals that represents the best interests of the patient/client must be at the table.” At the same time, the ARNM recognizes the leadership and dedication of its members over the past year. “We are proud that each day our profession is at the forefront of the efforts to care for our communities and thank all nurses for everything they are doing,” Cusack said. “Year after year, nurses are ranked as one of the most trusted health professionals by the public. This year has shown more than ever why this privilege is deserved.”

term care and public health,” Cusack says.

“Nurses were raising these issues long before COVID-19 came into the picture. Nurses also have potential solutions to health-care delivery issues, but their expertise and knowledge must be recognized and valued.” In the face of traumatic experiences, nurses have continued to be resilient and adaptable, she adds. “Understandably, this will take a toll. In the fall, results from our COVID-19 nursing survey of more than 1,100 nurses across care settings in Manitoba reported the negative impact of the pandemic. Much of the feedback focused on concerns for patients and clients, particularly vulnerable populations who did not receive the level of care they needed.” However, nurses also expressed worry about their own mental and physical health — and ultimately the long-term impact on the nursing profession. “As we move through the third wave and towards pandemic recovery, I believe a multi- pronged approach targeting the individual, organization and provincial systems would be most effective to ensure we don’t see a departure

Dr. Cheryl Cusack RN PhD Executive Director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba

settings to advance nursing and advocate for the public they serve.” As the largest health-care workforce, nurses at all levels must be included in health-care decisions, especially those that impact patients or clients.

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FROM LEFT: JESSICA MANLAPAZ,TRUDY NERNBERG, RYAN HAYWARD, LESLIE DRYBURGH. PHOTO BY NATASHA WOLOSCHUK, WINNIPEG REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY

STATE OF GRACE NURSES SUPPORT PATIENTS, FAMILIES — AND EACH OTHER

Thank You Nurses Frontline Heroes

BY MIKE DALY W hen it comes to understanding the daily triumphs, sorrows and impacts of working on a unit caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients, Grace Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses say, “You had to be there.” In November, Grace Hospital’s 10-bed ICU expanded to two units handling up to 18 COVID patients at a time. It was a logistical challenge, but also a human one. “It’s almost impossible to paint a mental picture for someone about the range of emotions you go through and what a COVID unit is really like,” says critical-care registered nurse Ryan Hayward. “You have to be in it to understand it.” As a 12-year ICU veteran, Hayward says that while he had become somewhat accustomed to caring for critically ill and dying patients, some of his colleagues — who were brought in to temporarily bolster the unit’s staff complement — were experiencing a critical-care environment for the first time. “One day I got tapped on the shoulder, and a nurse said to me, ‘Ryan, I’ve never seen anyone die before.’ I had to take a step back and talk her through the death and dying process and put her more at ease with what was going to happen.” It isn’t any easier on family members who, due to restrictions necessary to limit the spread of COVID, can’t be with their loved ones as they pass. To help families cope, ICU staff use applications such as Zoom and FaceTime, which allow them — in a virtual sense — to be bedside with their loved one. Staff also take part in a moment of silence at the bedside, which reassures families that the lives of their loved ones are honoured and that they aren’t alone at their time of passing. With the pandemic now in its second year, nurses have demonstrated both bravery and

resiliency, especially during the pandemic’s early days, when there were many more unknowns. “All of us were frightened,” says long-time nurse Leslie Dryburgh, one of several nurses brought in to assist Grace Hospital’s ICU staff in a team-based approach to COVID care. “We put on a brave face, as nurses often do, but deep inside there were lots of days where our stomachs were saying, ‘What am I doing here?’ We felt a lot of fear for our patients as well.” Teamwork and compassion were the keys to success, Dryburgh says. “I was so lucky to work in an environment with great people who worked as a team to provide outstanding care.We really looked out for our patients and for each other.” Trudy Nernberg, Grace Hospital’s critical-care clinical manager and a registered nurse, agrees that nurses have turned to each other for moral and professional support. “Looking after each other was a huge part of our success, and I think that’s continuing to this day,” she says. “I’ve seen it as a time of significant growth. ICU nurses are really proud of what they do and their ability to care for the sickest of the sick. We’ve been able to share and spread that pride to new members of the team, helping us extend what we can do in a day.” One of those new team members was Jessica Manlapaz, who graduated as a critical-care registered nurse in August 2020. “Being new to the ICU, I’m still getting used to a new routine and a new mentality,” she says. “But caring for COVID patients is new for even experienced nurses. So, like them, I’m gaining confidence as I go along. We are all doing our best for our patients, for ourselves and for each other.”

Wab Kinew MLA for Fort Rouge wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca

Nello Altomare MLA for Transcona nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca

Uzoma Asagwara MLA for Union Station uzoma.asagwara@yourmanitoba.ca

Diljeet Brar MLA for Burrows diljeet.brar@yourmanitoba.ca

Ian Bushie MLA for Keewatinook ian.bushie@yourmanitoba.ca

Danielle Adams MLA for Thompson danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca

Nahanni Fontaine MLA for St. Johns nahanni.fontaine@yourmanitoba.ca

Amanda Lathlin MLA for The Pas-Kameesak amanda.lathlin@yourmanitoba.ca

Malaya Marcelino MLA for Notre Dame malaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca

Jim Maloway MLA for Elmwood jim.maloway@yourmanitoba.ca

Tom Lindsey MLA for Flin Flon tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca

Jamie Moses MLA for St. Vital jamie.moses@yourmanitoba.ca

Adrien Sala MLA for St. James adrien.sala@yourmanitoba.ca

Lisa Naylor MLA for Wolseley lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca

Matt Wiebe MLA for Concordia matt.wiebe@yourmanitoba.ca

Bernadette Smith MLA for Point Douglas bernadette.smith@yourmanitoba.ca

Mintu Sandhu MLA for The Maples mintu.sandhu@yourmanitoba.ca

Mike Daly is a communications specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

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BRANDON HILLCREST PCH FITTEAM PHOTOS COURTESY OF PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN HEALTH

FIRST RESPONDERS NURSES STEP UP, FROM INITIAL VIRUS OUTBREAK THROUGH VACCINATION

I n January 2021, a COVID-19 outbreak in Brandon affected some of the community’s most vulnerable citizens. As information about new cases emerged, Prairie Mountain Health’s (PMH) public-health nurses responded immediately,

expediting contact tracing and working as part of a multidisciplinary response to put in place community supports, housing support, wrap-around services and everyday essentials for the population impacted by the outbreak. The rapid, flexible and team-based response was highly successful and is just one example of the many ways the PMH public-health nursing team has responded to the growing and

changing needs of Manitobans during an unprecedented pandemic year. PMH public-health nurses have been an important part of the provincial pandemic response, providing clinical support to teams in all regions of the province. In July and August of 2020, while much of the province continued to experience relatively low COVID-19 activity, PMH was responding to high case numbers. Public-health nurses cancelled vacations, worked additional hours and supported every possible initiative to bring case numbers down, and the team effort was ultimately successful. At the peak in provincial case numbers in the fall, PMH public- health teams supported as many as 80 cases in a single day, from all across the province. These dedicated professionals have travelled to local and remote First Nations communities, working collaboratively with communities in managing cases. More recently, public-health nurses have been at the centre of PMH’s support for COVID-19 immunization. “Public-health team members have played a crucial role during the pandemic, acting as our first line of defence in the fight against COVID-19,” says Glenda Short, regional lead, Community and Continuing Care. “They have applied their communicable disease investigation skills, compassion and advocacy to the emergence and evolution of COVID with fierce determination.” Public-health nurses like Terri-Lynn Archambault, who is based out of Ste. Rose du Lac, support COVID case investigations, contact tracing, case monitoring and follow-up to prevent the ongoing transmission of COVID-19. Archambault has also worked as an immunizer at the Dauphin pop-up vaccine clinic while continuing in her role as a Families First coordinator. “Although these are trying and ever-changing times for our program, it will go down in history as, ‘We survived it,’ ” Archambault says. The team has been able to support COVID-19 response while continuing to prioritize other important public-health initiatives, such as the annual flu campaign, harm-reduction initiatives and outreach care, prenatal and postpartum support, and childhood immunizations. “This team of health-care providers has been very versatile and able to adjust to changes in communities’ needs when called to do so. PMH public-health nurses have been flexible, working evenings, weekends and putting much of their own life on hold to fill whatever role needs to be done. They have been the behind-the- scenes providers working on the outbreak,” says Short.

May 10-16 FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, THANK YOU! National Nursing Week

JAMES BEZAN, MP SELKIRK E INTERLAKE E EASTMAN OFFICE@JAMESBEZAN.COM 204-785-6151

HON. CANDICE BERGEN, MP PORTAGE E LISGAR INFO@CANDICEBERGEN.CA 204-822-7440

RAQUEL DANCHO, MP KILDONAN E ST. PAUL RAQUEL.DANCHO@PARL.GC.CA 204-984-6322

MARTY MORANTZ, MP CHARLESWOOD E ST. JAMES E ASSINIBOIA E HEADINGLEY MARTY.MORANTZ@PARL.GC.CA 204-984-6432

TED FALK, MP PROVENCHER TED.FALK@PARL.GC.CA 204-326-9889

LARRY MAGUIRE, MP BRANDON E SOURIS LARRY.MAGUIRE@PARL.GC.CA 204-726-7600

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DAUPHIN POP UP VACCINE CLINIC.

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Cochrane and Brandon-based public-health nurse Angelina Scaletta are working as part of the travelling Focused Immunization Teams (FIT), immunizing some of the region’s most vulnerable residents in Personal Care Homes (PCH) and seniors’ congregate living facilities. Hillcrest Place Personal Care Home was the first PCH in Brandon to receive the vaccine, and Scaletta was there to administer the first shot. “I was honoured to participate in delivering the very early COVID vaccinations in Brandon,” Scaletta says. “For me, the day at Hillcrest Place was one of the highlights of my nursing career, and I am committed to continuing this important work.” Throughout Manitoba’s response to COVID-19, public-health nurses from across Prairie Mountain and all other regions of Manitoba have been silent heroes of nursing, supporting individuals, families and entire communities. Prairie Mountain Health is so proud of our nurses and the work they do each and every day. To the dedicated members of the public- health team and to all nurses, in all roles across our region, for commitment, compassion and kindness, we say today and every day, “Thank You!”

Jennifer Cochrane, who usually works in the Virden Health Unit, is one of the public- health nurses from PMH who demonstrates a willingness to fill in where help is needed. Cochrane administered the first vaccines when the Brandon Keystone Centre Supersite opened, and she has travelled to multiple locations to vaccinate seniors. “It is a privilege to be a part of the COVID-19 vaccination program,” she says. “I am very committed to this initiative and very proud to be a part of what will ultimately end the pandemic. I remain in awe of the strong science behind these effective, safe vaccines.”

RFHS / College of Nursing

THANK YOU!

Submitted by Prairie Mountain Health.

The College of Nursing is proud to celebrate National Nursing Week, May 10 – 16, 2021. We thank our learners, faculty members, nurses and midwives across the province for answering the call to deliver high-quality health care over the last year. We congratulate you for your extraordinary work during the COVID-19 pandemic. #WeAnswerTheCall

umanitoba.ca/nursing

PUBLIC-HEALTH NURSE JENNIFER COCHRANE, FROMVIRDEN, IMMUNIZING FIRST CLIENT ATTHE BRANDON KEYSTONE CENTRE SUPERSITE.

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cna-aiic.ca MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 10-16, 2021 A Vision For Future Healthcare #W e A nswer T he C all FRONTLINE ON THE HOMEFRONT CARING FOR LOVED ONES OR STRANGERS, PATIENTS ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING NURSES DO Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek

BY ESTEFANIA WUJKIW F or Rosemarie Oertel, nursing is a way of life. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, while working at Manitoba’s largest hospital, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, she cared for some of the sickest patients in the province.

At home, as a caregiver to family members, Rosemarie found herself delivering care to loved ones who tested positive for COVID-19. As a general duty nurse in GA4, a 30-bed adult medicine clinical teaching unit at HSC, she works with a multidisciplinary team to provide round-the-clock care to patients who have multiple chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions. When COVID-19 arrived in Manitoba last year, Rosemarie and her colleagues across the province stepped forward, delivering care with compassion, professionalism and dedication, while facing their very own fears about the virus. “As health-care providers, I think one of our biggest fears has

been catching and spreading COVID-19 to our patients at work and to our loved ones at home,” Rosemarie says. “We have all been so careful, changing our behaviours and at times distancing ourselves from family members in our own homes to reduce the chance of taking COVID-19 home.” In November 2020, Manitoba experienced the height of COVID-19’s second wave, high case numbers and increasing hospitalizations. Like many working Manitobans, Rosemarie and another member of her household were dealing with outbreaks at their workplaces during this time. To protect each other, they implemented strict practices that included washing clothes separately, disinfecting the washer and dryer between uses, dining in different rooms, and using separate bathrooms. Despite their best efforts, when the family member tested positive for COVID-19, it wasn’t long before another member of the household — Rosemarie’s senior mother — began showing symptoms, and soon tested positive. While Rosemarie did not — and has not since — tested positive, she once again stepped forward, taking a leave from work to dedicate herself to caring for her family members. Drawing from her nursing skills and experiences, Rosemarie took every precaution, bought her own supplies, set up a personal protective equipment station outside of her new “patient” rooms, and developed a comprehensive care plan. “I felt the weight of responsibility for my mom’s health outcome — just as all nurses do with their patients. It didn’t necessarily take the apprehension away, but I realized I was not alone, and I was not powerless,” she says. Rosemarie’s mother, herself a former nurse, performed her own vital-sign assessments and yelled the numbers through the door. “When she started to feel less energetic, I went in and did the checks myself. As a nurse, I still felt the urge to physically see her, but I was holding off because of the isolation factor,” Rosemarie says. “I set up a baby monitor with a camera and intercom — little did I know that I would be doing virtual care within my own home.”

Both family members recovered on their own and Rosemarie soon returned to work, providing patient care in hospital. “My friends and family took care of me while I was in nursing mode taking care of my family; always monitoring and evaluating how my two ‘patients’ were doing and how we were coping. I am so grateful to have such a strong support system,” she says.

Rosemarie is also quick to acknowledge and praise her supportive team at work.

“The more complex a patient’s needs are, the more health-care professionals needed to help develop and implement individualized care plans,” she says. “Through my clinical, committee, mentorship and research work, I was exposed to the variety of roles, even within nursing, that are represented at HSC. I am just one of the many faces of health care, but I am proud to be counted in the mix.”

Estefania Wujkiw is a senior communications specialist at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg – Shared Health.

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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! ROSEMARIE OERTEL, PHOTOGRAPHED AT A SAFE DISTANCE AT HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY

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!

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 IS BUILT IN Philanthropy

NATIONAL NURSING WEEK

MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 10-16, 2021 A Vision For Future Healthcare #W e A nswer T he C all

IS BUILT IN Philanthropy

Plan a gift now, or for the future, and you can fulfill your philanthropic goals while maximizing your tax savings. Ask us how you can make a difference through scholarships, research and more, with the impact of a legacy gift. Give the gift of knowledge Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek

IS BUILT IN Philanthropy

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Care to Make a Difference Join Us in Health Studies IS BUILT IN Philanthropy Care to Make a Difference?

BrandonU.ca | 1.877.282.4483

Nursing) (Winnipeg & Brandon) Bachelor of Nursing (BN) Master of Psychiatric Nursing (MPN) Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing (BScPN)

CARING CONNECTIONS NURSES RELISH VISITS TO FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES PUBLIC-HEALTH NURSES PAM NORE (LEFT) ANDTRACY DAWKINS CONDUCT A HOMEVISIT IN BLOODVEIN FIRST NATION. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INTERLAKE-EASTERN REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

Faculty of Health Studies 270-18th Street Brandon, MB R7A 6A9

W hen First Nations communities across Manitoba began to experience growing numbers of COVID-19 cases during the virus’ second wave, local staff and other resources became over- extended. Public-health nurses were invited to join outbreak-response teams in several communities, and nurses from across the Interlake-Eastern Health Region didn’t hesitate to step forward. They wanted to help, and they brought valuable experience in dealing with COVID-19 to their temporary worksites. Nurses Pam Nore and Tracy Dawkins, who normally work in Selkirk, joined the fight against COVID-19 just before Christmas 2020, when they travelled to Bloodvein First Nation, 250 kilometres north of Winnipeg. “Both of us have always wanted to travel and practice nursing in other settings. This was an opportunity to do just that within our own province,” they said in a joint statement. The pair worked at the nursing station as part of the local outbreak response, and Bloodvein First Nation Chief Derek Cook is quick to acknowledge how much their work was appreciated. “During our outbreak, our team pulled together. The nurses along with the rapid- response team also did a great job, even though we were working under a lot of stress and around the clock, making sure that everyone was taken care of and families were safe. It was a struggle but we pulled together as a team,” Cook says. “Council and I extend a huge thank you to all nursing/clinical team members, health staff, band staff and all community members for the hard work and dedication to keep us safe from the spread of COVID-19.” Public-health nurse Carla Geddes, who usually works in Stonewall, also volunteered to lend her support. In February, she travelled 770 kilometres north of Winnipeg to work at Cross Lake First Nation. “I am very aware of the impacts this

For information contact: collyert@brandonu.ca or irwinl@brandonu.ca

PUBLIC-HEALTH NURSE MARLEEN JONKER IN PAUINGASSI FIRST NATION.

pandemic is having on people’s mental health. It worries me even more than COVID itself,” Geddes says. “When there is a delay in notification of a positive case or interventions, it drags out the entire wave, ultimately making lockdowns longer. So if I could help reduce that burden, I wanted to.” She has reflected on the trust Cross Lake residents showed as they welcomed help into their community — and in some cases followed public-health advice to leave their homes and family in order to isolate in Winnipeg. “I hope COVID will be looked back on as the magnifying glass to recognize all the counterparts that keep us holistically healthy,” Geddes says. Oakbank public-health nurses Christine Brooks and Marleen Jonker, along with Heather Boer — a public-health nurse working in the provincial virtual contact- tracing centre — participated in teams of nurses who worked in Garden Hill First Nation, supporting COVID case investigations. While they were far from home — Garden Hill is 610 kilometres north of Winnipeg — Brooks says they made connections quickly, an accomplishment she attributes largely to the experience public-

health nurses have in connecting with community. “We were there as a resource for residents to feel supported and connected and to reduce the stress that COVID had brought very quickly to a community of 5,000 people,” Brooks says. While Brooks supported efforts in Garden Hill on two occasions, Jonker’s pandemic support extended to two other First Nations communities. “I had never travelled in Manitoba’s North, and saw the experience as an opportunity to help fight COVID at the ground level while also expanding my learning and understanding of very unique and diverse communities,” Jonker says. Both Jonker and Boer feel fortunate their profession has provided these opportunities. “The reality of life in Manitoba’s North isn’t something you can find or truly understand from reading about it,” Boer says. “While my exposure and experience are limited to these trips, I would very much like to learn more.”

Submitted by the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority

NATIONAL NURSING WEEK

10 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 10-16, 2021 A Vision For Future Healthcare #W e A nswer T he C all

Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek

cna-aiic.ca COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE TIRELESS DEVOTION TO DUTY KEEPS STAFF AND PATIENTS SAFE F ighting COVID-19 is a

“She can be counted on to be up-to-date on the latest information, even if it came out only 10 minutes earlier.” Schmidt has been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19, continuously interacting with staff to ensure they understand the latest guidelines and have access to supplemental training if needed. Putting in many extra hours, she has been available to support the ward even when she is not on call. Schmidt has also picked up additional shifts at Boundary Trails Health Centre on occasion, filling in for a colleague to ensure staff had continued access to the support of an IP&C nurse. “The strain COVID-19 put on our hospital staff was immense. Having someone like Melissa with the most up-to-date information was a blessing and we are eternally grateful to her,” says Cassan. Always on the lookout for better ways of doing something, Schmidt is committed, passionate and seemingly tireless. A respected team member, she is fierce in her commitment to doing everything necessary to keep patients, staff and the community as safe as possible. She brings excellence, compassion, respect and integrity to her role every day. Her colleagues are quick to point out her cheerful nature and the respect she shows for staff, patients and their families. If she is unsure of anything, she makes sure to get clarification before implementation, and she ensures her colleagues are all following standards and guidelines to the best of their ability. “Melissa is a tremendous resource and great help to the staff at Carman Memorial Hospital,” Cassan says. “Melissa’s commitment to IP&C has ensured that our facility, our staff and our patients have access to the knowledge and information that allows the continued delivery of safe, excellent care during the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation.”

team sport and for the past year, the dedicated health-care providers working across Southern Health- Santé Sud have relied upon the expertise and advice of specialized nurses like Melissa Schmidt.

Working in Infection Prevention & Control (IP&C) at Carman Memorial Hospital, she makes sure staff understand the latest guidelines and protocols that will keep them — and their patients — safe. “Melissa is truly deserving of recognition as an outstanding nurse and a valued member of our team,” says Lorraine Cassan, site lead at Carman Memorial Hospital. “Melissa has been my rock, my foundation of information and a person I can turn to when I need help with implementing a change.

Submitted by Southern Health-Santé Sud.

MELISSA SCHMIDT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL AT CARMAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHERN HEALTH-SANTÉ SUD.

Promoting Excellence

THANK YOU MANITOBA NURSES We are proud to support you!

in the Care of Older Adults

MGNA Manitoba Gerontological Nursing Association Benefits of membership: • Education sessions for continuing competencies • Subscription to newsletters • Access to awards and continuing education funding • Networking • CGNA membership & webinars

To our dedicated nurses who work endlessly to support our patients and residents during these unprecedented times, we thank you.

In celebration of National Nursing Week, our M edical R adiation T echnologists extend heartfelt appreciation to all nurses for their vital role on Manitoba’s health care team.

For more information about the MGNA visit www.mgna.ca

MRTs: the very image of care

NATIONAL NURSING WEEK

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

cna-aiic.ca MAY 6-12, 2019 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK cna-aiic.ca MAY 10-16, 2021 A Vision For Future Healthcare #W e A nswer T he C all NORTHERN LIGHT SERVING HER HOME COMMUNITY

Your leadership makes a difference every day. Share your story @canadanurses #VoiceToLead #IND2019 & #NationalNursingWeek

BYTWYLA STOREY W hen COVID-19 hit northern Manitoba, Erin Murphy stepped up to lead and motivate a team of public-health nurses. Murphy is a regional public-health nurse specializing in communicable disease coordination (CDC) for the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) in Thompson. She quickly became a voice and partner in team planning for responses in all communities within the region. This included responding to requests for assistance in some of the provincial nursing-station communities as well as First Nations and Inuit Health Branch communities. “I have the privilege of working with exceptional nurses and leadership, which makes it very easy to step up and strive for exceptional service for our communities,” Murphy says. Murphy also supports her team in the frontline work of COVID testing and treatment, as well as case and contact investigation. She’s known for being both an expert and educator in her field, and for having a keen eye for detail. Murphy’s public-health team members say she is always willing to assist, lend a hand in practice and leads with confidence. She also sets the bar high for excellence. “Northern’s public-health team continuously works together to ensure best practices are being followed,” Murphy says. “I have to credit our successes to our entire team; we all take part in ensuring the care and guidance we provide follows the most up-to-date provincial public- health guidelines.” Public health has always been Murphy’s passion and area of choice, beginning in her senior practicum during the final year of her Bachelor of Nursing degree, through the University of Manitoba Collaborative University College of the North program in Thompson. She entered public health in 2009 as a new grad, travelling to the NRHA’s Bay Line communities, where she provided postpartum, child health, CDC, immunization and health-promotion services. She has maintained certification in community health nursing and international certification in lactation consulting since 2014. Murphy made the shift to general public health CDC in 2018. Born and raised in Thompson, she chose to remain in her home community to provide care for those living in the North. Her passion and commitment to her community is evident in everything she does. Murphy is a mother to two children and a partner to her husband, Daryl. Outside of work she can often be seen at the local ice rink, watching her children play hockey and volunteering for tournaments. She also enjoys fishing, camping and travelling with her family in their free time. “The North has always been my home,” she says. “It is an honour to provide optimal public-health services to the communities I’ve grown to know.”

REGIONAL PUBLIC-HEALTH NURSE ERIN MURPHY PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY

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.

Twyla Storey is a communications specialist with the Northern Regional Health Authority.

The CRPNM is the regulatory body for the psychiatric nursing profession in Manitoba crpnm.mb.ca

IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL NURSING WEEK, the CLPNM would like to recognize LPNs for their perseverance over the past year, in the face of extraordinary challenging circumstances, and for their unwavering dedication and contribution to the health and wellness of all Manitobans.

The CLPNM is the regulatory body that governs the practice of student practical nurses, graduate practical nurses, and licensed practical nurses in Manitoba.

From all of us on National Nursing Week...

Thank you and stay safe.

For resources and information visit safemanitoba.com

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