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NATION AL NURSING WEEK
May 11 – 17, 2020
“Nursing the World to Health” proves to be a prophetic theme in 2020 BY ELIZABETH IRELAND
The theme for this year’s National Nursing Week campaign is “A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health.” Although this theme was conceived long before anyone knew about the COVID -19 crisis, it has never been truer that health care professionals are nursing the world to health. The 2020 campaign theme was developed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). Based out of Geneva, Switzerland, the organization represents the more than 20 million nurses worldwide. In 1971, the ICN designated May 12 as International Nurses Day. This date falls on the birthday of historical figure Florence Nightingale, who is known as a statistician and the founder of modern nursing. Registered nurse Claire Betker is president of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). Representing approximately 430,000 regulated nursing professionals, the CNA speaks on behalf of the Canadian nursing profession and a federation of 11 provincial and territorial professional nurses’ associations. Betker herself is based out of Winnipeg and right now her team is “fully virtual.” “COVID-19 is having a shocking global impact. The choice of the theme ‘Nursing the World to Health’ is portent given it was chosen before there
was even a whisper of a pandemic. COVID -19 is a marathon that will be impacting global health care for the long haul. The role of nurses around the world, and their sacrifices and contributions, are even more significant now,” said Betker. Over the past 43 years, Betker has focused her own nursing career on community health. She has a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Calgary and a PhD in nursing from the University of Saskatchewan. Betker’s role with the CNA is a volunteer position that includes a two-year term as president-elect and a second two years as president. This is her second and final year as president and she describes her CNA experience as “an unbelievable privilege.” Fittingly, it was Florence Nightingale who first inspired Betker to become a nurse. Betker believes that her childhood fascination with a How and Why Wonder Book about Nightingale’s life triggered her future career path. How and Why were a series of illustrated books published in the 1960s and 1970s, designed to teach science and history to children and tweens. “Reading the How and Why book about Florence Nightingale got me thinking that’s what I want to do. Nightingale was a statistician and she saw the opportunity for nurses to be knowledge workers and
to influence public policy. And, she was born 200 years ago. Considering that I made the choice to become a nurse at the age of 18, it was a great choice,” said Betker. When Betker is asked what motivates Canadian nurses to stay on the frontlines and risk their lives to provide patient care during this deadly pandemic, Betker is quick to respond, “This is what we do. Caring for patients in difficult situations is not new for nurses.” Betker points out that nurses contribute in all health care settings during the pandemic and not just ICUs. “Nurses are involved in public health, testing, case tracing and assessing where we are on the curve.
What are some of the stories of bravery that Betker has heard? “Originally, I was hearing worrying stories about shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and inconsistent guidance on PPE usage. There has been a lot of progress over the past few weeks on this issue.” Positive stories of the bravery of Canadian nurses include emergency practicing licensure for thousands of non-practicing and retired nursing professionals. Betker points out that this includes academics that usually teach nursing returning to the health care frontlines. “Canadian nurses, and Canadian nursing, are held in high regard around the world. Our regulation of the
COVID-19 is a marathon that will be impacting global health care for the long haul. The role of nurses around the world, and their sacrifices and contributions, are even more significant now. - C l a i r e B e t k e r, C a n a d i a n N u r s e s A s s o c i a t i o n president
COVID-19 has proven itself to be unpredictable in that patients can get really sick, really fast. Nurses are curious and we want to use our knowledge and data skills to contribute during this extremely difficult situation.”
profession, the quality of our education, our unions and our specialty areas are something we can be proud of,” observed Betker. How can the Canadian public support the nursing profession during C O V I D -1 9 ? B e t ke r e n -
National Nursing Week is an opportunity to say “thank you” to Canada’s nurses. These health care heroes are risking their lives to provide patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
courages people to stay informed through reliable sources such as the World Health Organization at www.who.int or the Public Health Agency of Canada at www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html. She also suggests that every Canadian does their part through social isolation, proper cough etiquette and getting tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms. The CNA has also created a dedicated campaign for members of the Canadian public who wish to express their gratitude to nurses through a handwritten note, a drawing or a social media post. More information about the CNA’s Thank a Nurse campaign can be found at www.cna-aiic.ca/ en/coronavirus-disease/ thank-a-nurse.
Claire Betker, RN, MN, CCHN(C), is president of the Canadian Nurses Association. PHOTO: CNA
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National Nursing Week May 11-17, 2020
2020 marks the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Each day, we stand together at the forefront of the health care system to serve, care for and protect the people of Saskatchewan. LPNs, RPNs, RNs and NPs provide quality compassionate care, and we thank the public for supporting the vital role nurses play in our health care system.
#StrongerTogether SASKATCHEWAN
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NATION AL NURSING WEEK SRNA working to ensure safety during COVID-19
BY ELIZABETH IRELAND
Established in 1917, the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA) is a profession-led association and regulatory body. The SRNA is accountable for public protection by ensuring its members are competent, as well as promoting its members’ professional interests. As registered nurses (RN) and nurse practitioners (NP), SRNA members are on the frontlines in diverse roles. They care for Saskatchewan residents and work together with their health care counterparts.
Cindy Smith is executive director of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA) and a “proud registered nurse.”
Cindy Smith is executive director of the SRNA and a “proud registered nurse.” She has dedicated her career to leadership in the nursing profession. Based out of Regina, Smith has 35 years of professional experience in health care in various settings under her belt. “ We acknowledge the critical role that registered nurses and nurse practitioners play in our province’s health care system, particularly during a global health crisis. There are more than 12,000 RNs and NPs in Saskatchewan and we know that some may be feeling fearful and anxious. We recognize the immense pressure our members face each day and we’re grateful for the important role they play on the frontlines during this unprecedented event,” said Smith. Smith earned her nursing diploma in 1985 and her post-registration Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1998. In 2008, she obtained a Master of Nursing degree from Athabasca University.
Smith’s past professional roles include manager of Adult Rehabilitation at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina and associate dean of the School of Nursing at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. It is worth noting that RNs and NPs already represent one of the highest employed health professions in Saskatchewan, even when there is not a pandemic taking place. There are more RNs and NPs licensed to practice in our province than any other related profession, such as physicians, pharmacists or paramedics. “The SRNA is pulling together and working parallel with the unions, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Ministry of Health to ensure RNs and NPs are hopeful, resilient and equipped to adequately care for their clients and their clients’ families. It is critical, now more than ever, that our members are equipped with personal protective equipment and can safely keep coming to work each day,” said Smith. The SRNA has adapted during COVID-19 with bylaw changes for emergency licensure, to establish a bank of nurses at-the-ready. Categories that are eligible for emergency practicing licensure include non-practicing and retired RNs and NPs based in Saskatchewan. Smith estimates 1,000 SRNA members fall into the non-practicing or retired category that are eligible for emergency licensure. The emergency practicing licensure process is taking place across Canada as a precautionary measure. The SRNA is also establishing new ways to connect with its members during this crucial time. One example is a virtual Annual General Meeting, scheduled for May 7, which Smith describes as “a first for us.” The year 2020 was declared Year of the Nurse and the Midwife by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its global partners. “Nurses and midwives are the backbone of every health system: in 2020 we’re calling on all countries to invest in nurses and midwives as part of their commitment to health for all,” said Dr.
Saskatchewan has more than 12,000 registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in various health care settings. PHOTO: SRNA
It is significant that 2020 is the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and that we are facing a global pandemic. RNs everywhere are tasked with the ultimate challenge, and they have shown up to fight the fight. - C i n d y S m i th , S R NA e x e c u ti v e d i re c t o r
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO. “It is significant that 2020 is the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife and that we are facing a global pandemic. RNs everywhere are tasked with the ultimate challenge, and they have shown up to fight the fight. We are thankful for the low rate of COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan and remain hopeful, but cautious,” said Smith. International Nurses Day is celebrated globally every May 12 on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth in 1820. Smith points out that COVID-19 has provided a powerful demonstration of the outstanding contri-
butions of nurses and midwives around the world. “This year we are celebrating 200 years since Florence Nightingale’s birth, but the world is also experiencing a pandemic. How can we still acknowledge and celebrate nurses? It is a tough time for everyone. We encourage our members to access mental health resources if needed and take time to care for themselves. This is an unprecedented event in all our lives,” concluded Smith. The SRNA continues to work closely with its partners to monitor developments relating to COVID-19 and take direction from provincial, federal and global health care authorities.
Celebrating Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs)
NATION AL NURSING WEEK
RPNs partner with the people of Saskatchewan to influence and achieve optimal health and mental wellness.
There are more RNs and NPs licensed to practice in our province than any other health-related profession, such as physicians, pharmacists or paramedics. PHOTO: SRNA
Registered nurses and nurse practitioners play a critical role in our province’s health care system, particularly during a global health crisis. PHOTO: SRNA
吀䠀䄀一䬀 夀伀唀
We honor RPNs for their expertise in continuing to connect with individuals, families and communities especially during uncertain times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to the RPNs of Saskatchewan for their contribution and invaluable service in providing quality Psychiatric Nursing care.
甀爀攀最椀渀愀⸀挀愀⼀渀甀爀猀椀渀最
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NATION AL NURSING WEEK Registered nurses raise voices to keep our community safe
BY PAT REDIGER
As the backbone of the health care system, registered nurses play a critical role in keeping the public and patients safe during a pandemic. During the COVID-19 crisis, Saskatchewan’s registered nurses are taking a lead role in advocating for patient and public safety, and calling for real-time changes to policies and practices to contain the spread of the virus. “We are the ones who have the first contact with patients, and we understand how to manage patient care in a holistic manner,” said Tracy Zambory, president of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN). “We understand what patients need and the nuances of care, and we understand what it takes to make a system work properly. We are essential in how to manage a plan and to successfully work our way through a pandemic.” Zambory said that there are numerous examples of registered nurses identifying issues and recommending solutions during this pandemic. When registered nurses saw that not enough testing for the virus was taking place, they called for increased testing. The same applies to contact tracing. When HealthLine 811 was overburdened with in-
Tracy Zambory, president of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, says registered nurses are leading advocates for patient and public safety. SU PPL IED PH O T O
take the public trust very seriously. The public knows that they can trust us to tell them the truth and so when we speak, the public listens The social media campaign launched by the Saskatchewan because they know what Union of Nurses sees registered nurses pleading with the pub- we’re saying has meaning. lic to stay home for their own safety. The campaign generated We don’t just speak for the many positive comments that lifted the spirits of registered sake of it. We speak for the nurses in our province. SU PPL I ED PH O T O safety of the people that we care for, and the safety of creased public demand, COVID-19 patients, health people who deliver the care, registered nurses reacted workers caring for these pa- including registered nursquickly to help fill the gaps, tients, or for creating ded- es and the rest of the health and when concerns emerged icated COVID-19 facilities, care team,” said Zambory. about insufficient amounts and they called on decision She added that this adof personal protect equip- makers to address these vocacy takes place in a colment (PPE), registered nurs- concerns. They continue to laborative framework with es called for better access advocate on behalf of vulner- decision makers because, in and greater transparency re- able populations and those the end, everyone is working garding supply levels for all in long-term care facilities, together with the same goal frontline health workers. recognizing these patients of flattening the curve, and Registered nurses also are most at risk for serious making sure that patients recognized that there was no complications. stay safe and healthy. provincial plan for cohorting “As registered nurses, we Registered nurses also
take a lead role in communicating with the public and encouraging people to adhere to physical distancing and to stay at home. SUN leads a social media campaign in which registered nurses plead with the public to stay home for their own safety. “When people saw pictures of registered nurses holding up the signs, they filled their social media feeds with comments such as ‘Thank you so much for being on the front lines for us.’ It really made registered nurses feel so cared for, so respected, and just so good.” During this period, registered nurses also are speaking up for vulnerable populations including the poor, homeless, and those suffering from addictions and mental health issues. Registered nurses are raising their concerns so these individuals are not forgotten during the pandemic. “We look at society and patients in a holistic way,” explained Zambory. “The one thing that we believe in so strongly is social solidarity, that we raise each other up, and we protect our most vulnerable, and together we do that as a community.” She admits that registered nurses experience plenty of anxiety during the pandemic, but she said they also understand the risks involved
in being a member of the largest group of health care providers in the province. “There’s a lot of pressure and a lot of stress. But as registered nurses, we understand that when you choose a career of medicine there are times when we really have to get going and this is one of them. But one thing that has really lifted the morale and brightened the day for people is the support that we get from the public. Registered nurses are very trusted by the public.” As the pandemic continues, Zambory said registered nurses will continue to raise their voices for what is important, and will continue to have critical conversations with the government, other health care stakeholders and the public on what is required to keep people healthy and safe. “Registered nurses are everywhere in the health care sector and we will continue to have those hard conversations that others find difficult to have. We know as registered nurses that we have to advocate to have a healthy, functioning, and protected society. We have to be willing to say what needs to be said. We must be willing to do that for the patients, for people, and for society.” To l e a r n m o r e , v i s i t makingthedifference.ca.
Self-care vital for nurses coping with stress BY HILARY KLAS SEN
With new challenges disrupting health care systems around the globe, nurses are facing tremendous pressures. The high stress job typically involves long shifts as well as shift work. During this “International Year of the Nurse,” it may be time to ask, “Who’s taking care of nurses?” Carolyn Schur, a shiftwork and fatigue specialist, says the emotional and physical toll for those providing health care to coronavirus patients is dangerously high. “In Ontario and Quebec where ICU units are full, almost every nurse will come out with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).” Thankfully, the COVID-19 situation in Saskatchewan is
currently not as grave. “We haven’t had an influx of patients,” said Schur. Nurses have taken extra training and are as ready as they can be. “But frankly, some of the nurses don’t have the flow of patients they would normally have because everything has been cleared out for COVID patients.” Nevertheless, Saskatchewan nurses operate with sufficient challenges on a dayto-day basis. Physical and emotional fatigue are common. Years ago, if a nurse had eight or 10 patients to care for, about two of those were very seriously ill. “Nowadays, if you have eight or 10, they need all your attention all the time. They are very high acuity,” Schur said, and staffing hasn’t changed much.
Fatigue is generated in part by how the system works. The job involves long shifts, night shifts, and a workload that makes taking breaks a real challenge. Nurses get called to pull extra shifts and often feel duty-bound to take them to ensure patient care doesn’t suffer and to protect their colleagues. The vast majority of nurses do shift work and deal with insomnia. “Shiftwork involving nights is where the real problem lies. The body is not designed to sleep in the daytime. The challenge is how do you get good quality and sufficient quantity of sleep in the daytime?” she said. Schur encourages nurses to advocate on their own behalf. This can begin by guarding their sleep time. They can
inform family and friends of their sleep schedule and ask them not to call. They can turn off the phone and set a special ring tone for those who absolutely need to reach them. They can teach others – children, spouse, elderly parents – what a real emergency is and how to respond to it. They can even ask neighbours not to mow their lawns during sleep time. Nutrition and exercise are big problems for nurses, Schur says. Hospital cafeterias are available during regular 9-to-5 hours, assuming a nurse can get a break. Even if she or he does get a break, it takes precious time off the ward to make the trip to the cafeteria and back. At night, vending machines dispense calories in the form of candies and chips.
Beyond physical care, nurses provide continuous emotional support to patients and their families. When emotional reserves are depleted, they need to be replenished through strategic self-care, says shiftwork and fatigue specialist Carolyn Schur. PHOTO: GET TY IMAGES
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Thank You
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BEING THERE for Saskatchewan patients and families HAPPY
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NATION AL NURSING WEEK Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Nursing goes virtual in response to COVID-19
One of the hallmarks of Saskatchewan Polytechnic training is applied learning—hands-on opportunities for students to put theory into practice. The School of Nursing, in particular, has led the way in developing innovative, highly successful applied learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has put this commitment to innovation to the test—with remarkable results. For the first time ever, the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) degree program offered in partnership with the University of Regina, delivered the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) virtually. The OSCE is a performance test that uses interactive patient stations to assess student response to various clinical scenarios. Some scenarios have written questions. The multi-faceted exam can take up to five hours, and SCBScN faculty had to move it all online, quickly. “It was the first time we have ever given the OSCE virtually,” said Chris Barlow, RN, Sask Polytech’s SCBScN academic chair (Saskatoon). “The exam included an online evolving case study, quizzes and a video component in which students did an exam on themselves (or a family member, a doll, even a picture) to demonstrate their learning and understanding of a clinical scenario.” Feedback has been positive. “Students found the process less stressful, in many ways, than a traditional OSCE, but just as useful for demonstrating their knowledge. And faculty appreciate having an opportunity to evaluate a new learning/ teaching method,” said Kandis Harris, RN, SCBScN academic chair (Regina). According to Sandra Blevins, RN, Sask Polytech’s dean for the School of Nursing, all nursing faculty deserve huge kudos for being
Practical Nursing faculty member Daria Biasotto, RN, delivers a virtual clinical facilitated by daily Zoom debriefings.
innovative and moving to online learning on such short notice. “It’s absolutely amazing what they were able to pull off in just two weeks,” Blevins says. Faculty in the Sask Polytech Practical Nursing diploma program are also pushing the limits of innovation to adapt their teaching in the COVID-19 era. “We’ve all had to find ways to accommodate learning while social distancing, and I believe we rose to the challenge when our semester two students got to experience our first ever virtual clinical,” said Regina-based faculty member Daria Biasotto, RN. Biasotto was uncertain whether virtual clinical could ever replace handson clinical but says students embraced the experience. “As the days unfolded, I observed increasing self-awareness, clinical reasoning, stu-
dents not being afraid to repeat a simulation for further learning and more. I have no doubt these students will take the knowledge gained from this experience forward into their next hands-on clinical experience and beyond.” “By shifting to online and distance formats using virtual simulation and faculty-led interactive evolving case studies, we’ve been able to continue to engage students in high quality learning despite the challenges of the current COVID-19 crisis,” says BillyJo Howe, academic chair of Practical Nursing. “Both faculty and students have adapted well. I’m so proud of the creativity that has resulted and the depth of learning that has occurred.” Similar adjustments to learning and teaching have been made in the Psychiatric
Nursing program. “Students are usually honing year one skills in a psycho-geriatric setting, but this year, our year one practice education will need to look quite different,” said Laureen Larson, RN, academic chair of the program. Program faculty have created case studies and virtual simulations to allow students to apply theory to practice and to think broadly about seniors living in a variety of settings. Students will also be using virtual s i m u l at i o n t o p ra c t i c e clinical skills. “Students don’t always have an opportunity to practice each of these skills in their spring rotation, but in our new virtual world they will,” Larson said. “We’re confident that students will have a great learning experience.” Such positive feedback
PHOTO: SA SK ATCHEWA N POLYTE CHNIC
to online learning and virtual simulation is no surprise to Dr. Madeline Press, RN, director of Sask Polytech’s Centre for Health Research, Improvement and Scholarship. She completed her doc toral thesis on “Nurse faculty experiences w i t h i n t e g rat i n g h i g h fidelity simulation into their teaching practice.” Late last year, she partnered with University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina nursing faculty on a white paper about increasing the use of technology in nursing curriculum. “I think the COVID-19 pandemic has made us more aware of the need to change how we do things,” Dr. Press said. “The old view is that we need to give students as much clinical practicum time as possible. The new view, which is based on research, is that we can
replace up to half of clinical time with simulation time. The key is finding the right balance.” There are many reasons to integrate more simulation, including virtual simulation, in nursing education. The most compelling is that simulation labs give students a chance to learn hands-on process for a broad range of scenarios in a safe, no-risk environment. “That’s the key advantage of simulation-based learning,” Dr. Press said. “If a student gets something wrong, it’s just a learning e x p e r i e n c e ; t h e r e’s n o patient impact.” As COVID-19 continues to change the way we live, work and learn, Sask Polytech’s School of Nursing is pushing forward to innovative new ways to use online learning and virtual simulation in nursing education.
THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC.
Self-care vital for nurses coping with stress Schur encourages nurses to bring portable nutrition with them to work – good protein sources with a little bit of added energy, such as a boiled egg, a banana, nuts, yogurt and small packs of cheese – sustenance that can be accessed once an hour to help nurses keep going. Schur also recommends chocolate milk or orange juice in managed quantities. If addressing physical needs like nutrition, sleep and exercise is challenging,
attending to one’s inner story is more so. Beyond physical care, nurses provide continuous emotional support to patients and their families. “Emotional care is what most nurses regard as their biggest task,” said Schur. Nurses provide reassurance to patients, discuss procedures and ask them what they need. “The energy that takes sucks you dry,” added Schur. When emotional reserves are depleted, they need to be replenished
through strategic self-care. If they’re not, physical and mental fatigue may combine to increase the risk of injuries. When it comes to the well-being of their employees, the health care system is mainly focused on prevention of injuries, Schur says. Back injuries and muscular skeletal injuries are numerous among nurses. “Having a rest break is critical to avoiding these injuries. I teach nurses how to take a
break.” But what about emotional injuries? A different kind of fatigue happens as nurses are exposed to repeated and regular trauma. When sickness, pain and death are near, nurses experience compassion fatigue. Seeing patient recoveries helps, but research has shown that we humans have a negativity bias. This means that negative experiences have a greater psychological impact on us than positive
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ones. To counter that, nurses need to release a pressure valve by calling a friend to unburden, seeing a counsellor or even having a good cry, to assist their own recoveries. The public can help support nurses by respecting their sleep schedule during the day. “That’s by far the most important thing you can do,” Schur said. If you know a nurse is doing a lot of overtime for whatever reason – they may need the
money, they may be a single parent – send over a meal or a gift certificate to where they can pick up a meal. Volunteer to look after their kids every once in a while. Set up a play date for when a nurse will normally be sending kids to daycare. Pick up extra groceries and save a nurse the trip. It appears health care systems can do more to protect nurses from various types of fatigue and empower them in self care.
THANK YOU
The Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Nursing recognizes and thanks the Saskatchewan Health Authority, our many community partners and all of our preceptors for their unwavering commitment to our students’ success during these unprecedented times in our healthcare system. Through their dedication and support to nursing education, our students will be able to safely finish their education and successfully graduate! We salute all nurses and health care workers in the province for their ongoing dedication and commitment to the profession and the people they care for.
@saskpolytechnursing
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NATION AL NURSING WEEK Enhanced education programs prepare nurses for every challenge BY CAROL T ODD
Almost 200 years after Florence Nightingale focussed on the need for proper hygiene, evidence based nursing care and formal education for nurses, the focus is now more than ever on the contributions of nurses and other front-line health care workers.
this year as the world reels from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The message of “Nurses: A Voice to Lead — Nursing the World to Health” was developed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to showcase how nurses are central to addressing a wide range of health challenges. The interim Dean of the University of Regina Faculty of Nursing says there needs to be more awareness of the role nurses play in the health care system. Dr. Robin Evans says the current coronavirus
opportunity this year to make more visible what nurses do and the contributions they make to the health care system,” Evans said. Here in Saskatchewan, Eva n s s ay s n u r s e s a r e prepared to meet the current pandemic and other challenges. “Nursing has always dealt with crises – although not necessarily global crises like this. Nurses are educated to deal with situations that present on any day which may have major impact or outcomes for the
I think the current coronavirus pandemic has brought wider recognition of the complexity of what nurses do and the value they bring. - D r. R o b i n E v a n s
Dr. Robin Evans is interim Dean of the University of Regina Faculty of Nursing. PH O TO : UN I V E R S I T Y OF R E G I NA
I t c o u l d n’ t b e m o r e appropriate that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, prior to the emergence of the global coronavirus pandemic. The declaration is in recognition of the fact it’s been 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale. The theme for National Nursing Week (May 11 to 17) takes on additional meaning
Offered jointly by the University of Regina and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) program prepares students to become registered nurses ready for any eventuality. PHOTO: SA SK ATCHEWA N COLLA B ORATIV E BAC HEL OR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PRO G RA M)
pandemic has brought wider recognition of the complexity of what nurses do and the value they bring. “I think a lot of times the way nurses are portrayed in the media, in movies and television, is not a true depiction of the depth of knowledge and the responsibilities that a nurse has,” she said, adding that events such as National Nursing Week and the dedicated Year of the Nurse and Midwife help raise awareness of the real role of nurses. “It’s a great profession – we have the
individuals and significant others experiencing them. Fo r t u n a t e l y w e d o n ’ t deal with pandemics that frequently but nurses are prepared to manage them when they do occur.” The knowledge and skills that nurses need has continued to increase over the years and advanced education is required to meet those needs. Evans, who is a registered nurse, as well as holding a PhD, says the Saskatche wan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN)
program offered jointly by the University of Regina and Saskatchewan Polytechnic prepares students to become registered nurses ready for any eventuality. The four-year degree program includes a number of options available to the more than 1,200 students who are enrolled each year. “The evolving role of the nurse, combined with required indepth knowledge, and real world experience in a clinical setting makes the four year program challenging for many students.”
The four-year nursing degree program can be completed in three or three and a half years by attending classes during the spring/summer term; an after degree program can be completed in two years. The only bilingual nursing option in the province is an added feature of the SCBScN program, in which students take 50 per cent of their classes in French. “It seems to me that we have the right number and mix of nursing education spots right now for the needs of the province.
Since the first graduating class in 2014, almost all of our nearly 1,600 graduates have found rewarding careers as nurses in the province,” Evans said. In this, the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and with the Nursing Week theme of “Nursing the World to Health”, nurses are front and center during this pandemic. So please stay safe, and remember to say a heart-felt ‘thank you’ to nurses and those who educate them. We need you now more than ever.
National Nursing Week May 11 to 17, 2020
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Complete half of your degree in English and half in French. Join the bilingual cohort within the Regina program; the only nursing program in Saskatchewan with a bilingual option.
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NATION AL NURSING WEEK Creating opportunity, advancing reconciliaton
“HeART and conSCIENCE” at the root of new Indigenous Research Chair at USask College of Nursing
BY NAOMI ZUREVINSKI
In April 2020, Dr. Holly Graham (PhD) was awarded a $1.05M Indigenous Research Chair, which is the first of its kind for the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Nursing. Graham says that with the chair, she is looking forward to strengthening existing relationships and establishing new ones, while continuing to work with Indigenous communities province-wide to improve health and wellness. The chair is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation and the Canadian Nurses Association. Entitled wahkohtowin, which means “we are all related,” Graham’s focus will centre around the mentorship of undergraduate and graduate student nurses, of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry, to advance reconciliation in nursing practice, research and education. Graham says the research program will create the opportunity for personal, community and collective wellness for both Indigenous
In April, Dr. Holly Graham was awarded a $1.05M Indigenous Research Chair, which is the first of its kind for the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Nursing. Her research will centre around the mentorship of undergraduate and graduate student nurses, of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry, to advance reconciliation in nursing practice, research and education. P H O T O : D EBR A M AR SH AL L FO R SASKT CH EWAN H EALT H R ESEARCH FOUNDATION
and non-Indigenous peoples, with the ultimate goal of transforming relationships. This Indigenous research chair will also provide scholarships to Indigenous and non-Indigenous undergraduate and graduate nursing students in the province. “Ultimately, the goal is to recruit, retain and have a greater number of Indigenous nurses graduate with their master’s and a PhD, and then be hired as faculty,” Graham said. “I’d really like to see the number of Indigenous graduate students and faculty increase in the college.” Graham is a member
of the Thunderchild First Nation and has been a registered nurse for 35 years, working in various settings across North America. She is currently an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and is also a Registered Doctoral Psychologist. Her work in both academia and private practice have informed her research interests in mental health, wellness and Indigenous health, which are all elements she plans to expand on through the research chair. “When I look at the significance of this chair, it is timely with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to
Action. It’s an opportunity to examine current nursing education, practice, research and administration,” Graham said. “Traditionally, academia has had a Euro-centric worldview, but when we look at the Calls to Action, there are very specific calls to integrating Indigenous culture, protocols and worldview into education.” Graham says that the research done through wahkohtowin will center around community-based and community-driven work. “The research component will support research relationships that are mutually beneficial, ensuring that In-
digenous peoples are driving the research agenda and that they are included in the data analysis and the sharing and publication of the findings.” She says reconciliation will also involve incorporating Indigenous worldviews into the curriculum. Some of these teachings include the Medicine Wheel and the Sacred Seven Grandfather Teachings of respect, wisdom, love, bravery, honesty, humility and truth. “Nursing is both an art and a science, both equally important. When I do presentations, I write ‘heART’ and ‘conSCIENCE’ on the board, so you see ‘Heart and
Conscience’ but ‘Art and Science’ are embedded in these words,” she said. “As nurses we have knowledge related to all aspects of health and wellness, however, if we don’t have the art or the capacity to relate and to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, our knowledge will not have the same impact.” Graham’s personal and professional philosophy revolves around the Sacred Seven Grandfather Teachings, and she hopes to integrate them into the practice of nursing, which she says has the capacity to change the current context of how people interact and relate to each other within health care and beyond. “When we talk about having both an Indigenous and Western perspective on health, it’s really about understanding that there’s more than one way to approach health, and that there’s more than one way to have a relationship,” she said. “As nurses we are the largest base of frontline providers in health care, so it makes sense that we would have this knowledge.” Overall, it’s relationships that Graham loves most about her work, and what she’s most excited for moving forward. “I welcome and love the opportunity to be a part of change and wellness,” she said. “I am committed to lifelong learning and growing, and sharing this journey with students and the communities I work with.”
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