SP National Nursing week by Postmedia Saskatchewan

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national nursing week

#YESThisisnursing: National Nursing Week 2017 Ashleigh MAt tern

When people think of nursing, they tend to imagine nurses working in traditional roles such as in hospitals and public health clinics, but Barb Shellian, president of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), says they fill many more non-traditional roles as well. This is why the association chose the theme “#YESThisIsNursing” for National Nursing Week 2017 and 2018 – to highlight the wide variety of work nurses do every day. “ Nu r s e s h av e a l w ay s worked in homes and communities and hospitals,” Shellian says, “but nurses now work in the oil sands, or in the arctic or on cruise ships. It’s all sorts of different settings, but the mindset or the perspective… whether you’re in Grise Fiord, Nunavut, or Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, it’s the same.” The settings nurses are working in are changing. Shellian is doing her work as a nurse from the Centre Block of Parliament Hill, talking to the Prime Minister about policy. Nurses work on the streets in ur-

ban centres. When Shellian spent a day with a nurse in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, she saw clearly what an important role nurses play there, in a decidedly non-traditional workplace. “It opened my eyes to that role, and how people who we might see as disadvantaged or disenfranchised, if they see a nurse, they see hope.” Shellian says the focus of nursing, no matter where the profession is practiced, is to promote health and wellness. This ability to make a difference continues to be a draw for people entering the profession. Plus, there’s a wide variety of work and specializations to choose from when working as a nurse. “You can find yourself and where you fit in this broad profession of nursing, and have that meaning, and say, at the end of the day, I had some influence on people; I had some influence in the healthcare system.” Since she became president of the CNA, Shellian has travelled to every province and territory to meet

with nurses, and saw firsthand the impact they can have on their communities, especially in rural and remote areas like Grise Fiord. “I me t a nurse from Nunavut, and her influence on her community is done within her clinic, but also in the community because she’s the only nurse in Grise Fiord, the most northern community in Canada.” Nursing is a profession that tackles challenges. From delivering health care in rural regions, to helping people with addictions in cities, to caring for Canada’s aging population, to promoting mental health wellness – it will be the nurses at the front line. Shellian says nurses are aware of all of these challenges, but she doesn’t see them as a problem. “Wherever we see a theme or issue, we know that nurses are prepared to help,” she says. “Nursing has never been seen as a selfserving profession…. In 10 years time, we’ll be talking about different challenges in our country, but we’ll also be saying, how can nurses help? That flexibility and

Barb Shellian, RN, MN, is president of the Canadian Nurses Association. P h o To : CNA

that ability to adapt and to change is characteristic of nursing.” The career is still a popular choice; the CNA says more regulated nurses are entering the profession than

leaving it. Shellian says she can’t see it dying out or becoming obsolete, no matter how far technology advances, though it will be changing. “Technology keeps mov-

ing ahead, but that essence of nursing and that ability to make a difference and use your knowledge and your skills and your caring perspective – that hasn’t changed.” Shellian has been a nurse for 43 years. Growing up in Saskatchewan, she was inspired to follow in the footsteps of an aunt who worked as a nurse, and says her experience is common – many nurses have family members who were also in the profession. As a young nurse, she says she never imagined herself travelling all over Canada in a leadership role; her view of what a nurse can be has changed completely since she first started her career. Despite this shift in her paradigm, though, she says her big picture view of nursing hasn’ t really changed: She wants to make a difference. “National Nursing Week is talking about making a difference in lots of different places. When I’m in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill talking to the Prime Minister, hopefully I’m making a difference.”

This secTion was creaTed by conTenT works, PosTmedia’s commercial conTenT sTudio.

National Nursing Week May 8-14 2017

#YESThisIsNursing

Join us in celebrating Nursing Week. Take time to reﬂect on the contribution LPNs, RPNs and RNs/NPs make in helping the people of Saskatchewan maintain, and enhance their health and quality of life. SASXR254976_1_1

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national nursing week SRNA celebrates 100 years J o nAt h A n h A M e l i n

On March 9, those who passed by the Saskatchewan Legislative Building would have noticed a different flag waving in the wind. On that day, the Saskatchewan Legislature raised a flag commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA). Prior to that, current and former staff and council members were hosted in the Legislature so that the Honourable Greg Ottenbreit, Minister of Rural and Remote Health and other MLAs could personally acknowledge the milestone. According to Carolyn Hoffman, executive director of the SRNA, it was a fitting tribute, as the governmentof-the-day played a key role in the formation of the SRNA in the beginning. On March 10, 1917, the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Act was passed. The original council was made up of seven members: two who were appointed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons and five who were elected from the SRNA members in good standing. “The SRNA was established not only because of nurses recognizing the need for profession-led regulation in Saskatchewan, but it was also our colleagues in the government that recognized that, in the interest of public safety, there was a need for a regulatory framework for Registered Nurses (RNs) to be in place,” Hoffman says.

In the beginning, Hoffman says the SRNA focused on approving nursing education programs that would graduate students, who would then become eligible to become licensed after they obtained the other necessary requirements. The SRNA also created a specific process for investigating and possibly disciplining RNs in cases where there were issues with their conduct or competence. As the SRNA has grown over the years, the scope of professionals it regulates has also expanded. In 2004, the first RN Nurse Practitioners [RN(NP)s] were licensed in the province. RN(NP)s are RNs who have obtained additional education and nursing experience. They possess the knowledge and skills to order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose, prescribe treatment (including drugs) and perform specific procedures within their scope of practice. RN(NP) s work in all healthcare settings and care for people of any age. In December of 2016, the SRNA added a new designation for licensure called Additional Authorized Practice (AAP) within the RN general category. RNs with AAP have the ability to test, diagnose and treat limited common medical disorders using evidence-based clinical decision tools. There were 59 RNs, working in nine northern sites, with the new designation as of Dec. 1, 2016. “Creating this designa-

tion took a great deal of collaboration, coordination and evidence-based resources,” Hoffman says. “It’s a very important next step in the regulating of Registered Nurses.” Hoffman says that another key role of the SRNA has been to develop resources to support all RNs and RN(NP) s in their practice. “In 2016, our nursing advisors at the SRNA responded to over 1,000 requests for practice advice,” she says. “That gives you an idea of the volume of questions coming in. We work hard to give them the evidence to provide safe and effective care.” The SRNA has been taking some time in 2017 to celebrate and reflect upon the past 100 years. On March 10, the SRNA held a 100th anniversary gala at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. Hoffman says that over 200 members and health system partner representatives attended the event and it was a great opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved so far and to think a little bit about the future of the SRNA. “All of our members and health system partners are proud of the SRNA for achieving such a significant milestone: 100 years of profession-led regulation,” Hoffman says. “The total number of practicing RNs and RN (NP)s was 11,491 for our 2016 membership year. That makes us the largest profession led healthcare regulatory body in Saskatchewan. We’re very

As the SRNA celebrates 100 years since the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Act was passed, their role continues to change and expand. RN Nurse Practitioners, for instance, are able to work in all healthcare settings and care for people of any age. PhoT o: SRNA

proud of our history over the past 100 years and the RNs and RN(NP)s across the province helping to deliver health care. It’s a great reflection of the importance of Registered Nursing to the patients, residents, clients and families within the health care system.” As Hoffman explained, the SRNA wants the celebrations to extend throughout the province. It has been providing opportunities throughout 2017 for members to engage with each

other, with members of the public, with employers and educators and other health system partners to hold local celebrations across the province. For example, she noted that some nursing students with the University of Regina Nursing Students Society applied for some of the SRNA’s celebration funding to hold a week-long set of activities to celebrate the wellness of students and the 100th anniversary. “ We were ver y happy

to co-sponsor that event with the students and to get to know them,” Hoffman says. “We helped them learn about the SRNA and the importance of Registered Nursing in the province, while supporting their wellness at the same time. We know that some of our members across the province are going to be holding teas, luncheons and education sessions to engage with us and to also celebrate the 100 th anniversary on a local basis.”

May 8 to 14, 2017

Licensed Practical Nurses and Continuing Care Aides vital to health care

is National

Nursing Week

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

LPNs and CCAs are essential members of the nursing team in all health care settings in Saskatchewan. GETTY IMAGES

In our busy health care system, we see men and women in scrubs moving past us all the time. Whether it’s in our community hospital, nursing home or home care environment, the members of your public health care team want you to get the care you need when you need it. National Nursing Week gives us a chance to get to know all of the players on our nursing team, how they work to benefit you and your family. We want you to know that behind those scrubs, there are different skills, knowledge and talents working to provide world-class health care to the people of Saskatchewan. The role of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) has expanded over the last two decades as a direct result of LPN program changes in our province. The intense schoolbased knowledge of the LPN lends to their practical placement where those skills can be put to work and in an environment that hones a high level of professionalism. LPNs have a regulated profession and extremely concentrated medical training over two years that sets a high standard all across Canada. They are licensed, trained professionals who continue to build their skill and knowledge to benefit their patients, clients and residents. LPNs work in operating rooms, long term care facilities, emergency rooms, home care and public

health offices. They bring compassion, integrity, knowledge and teamwork to our public health care team. Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) have expanded the scope of their skills over the last two decades as well. Once called ‘nurse aides’, they have built a body of knowledge and professionalism with increasing levels of skill and experience. Their formal training provides them with foundational medical knowledge, and their engagement with patients, clients and residents gives them the hands-on lens which contributes to the larger picture of the whole health care team. Together, this team works seamlessly to care for you and your loved ones. Within our provincial health care system, there are far too few nursing teams and front line workers of all stripes. Running to provide care is becoming a standard operating procedure. As a province, we need to recommit to investing in our health care system so that we have enough people in scrubs to keep you and your loved ones comfortable, informed, and healthy by providing the professional care you need, when you need it. LPNs and CCAs in your community are united by one union, SEIU-West, and one colour, purple. Find out more about your public health care team by visiting purpleworks.ca.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SEIU-WEST FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.

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Continuing Care Assistant (CCA)

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) – vital to our health care system and essential players in your nursing team. Join us in celebrating the entire Nursing family – visit:

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national nursing week A History of Caring:

Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Nursing Celebrates 50th Anniversary ally, attendees will receive a commemorative booklet on the School of Nursing’s history, while alumni will have the chance to participate in a Re-Pinning ceremony. Lastly, the School of Nursing has also established a Legacy Trust to fund scholarships, awards, and bursaries for students in the years

ryAn hAll

Since 1967 the Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Nursing has served as the primary provider of high-level nursing education in the province. During this time they have met the growing needs of health care providers in Saskatchewan while also gaining a national, and international, reputation for excellence. This year the school is celebrating the past, while looking to the future. Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s role in nursing education began in 1967 with the launch of a Diploma Nursing Program at the then Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Saskatoon. This marked a transition in how things were done in the province, as previously nursing education had been solely hospital based. From the beginning the program was a success, with a class of 240 students graduating in 1969. Three years later, in 1972, a further 300 students enrolled in classes at the newly opened Saskatchewan Wascana Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Regina. Today, the School of Nursing offers programs to over 3,600 students from their Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert campuses. As the only institution in Saskatchewan to offer education that spans the entire family of nursing, and specialized areas of nursing practice, the demand remains high for their 16 innovative and award-winning programs. To meet this need, the school has embraced new ways to reach students, including the use of on-campus classes, online courses, videoconferencing, and blended learning approaches. Additionally, agreements have been made to broker programs through regional colleges and health regions, which has further increased access for students across the province, and all of Canada.

to come. The goal is to raise $50,000 and all alumni can be part of this legacy. To help reach this goal, the school has partnered with Hillberg & Berk to design an exclusive 50th anniversary bracelet, with proceeds going to the Legacy Trust. Alumni from all the nursing programs at Sask

Polytechnic, as well as its predecessor institutions (SIAST, Kelsey Institute, Wascana Institute, WIASS, KIASS) are welcome to register for these special events. To do so, or to find out more information about the School of Nursing 50th Anniversary celebrations, please visit www.nursing50th.ca.

Much has changed in the field of nursing, including their uniforms. Here a group of nurses model uniforms of the past. P h oT o: SAS k P olY T E Ch

Beyond accessibility, the school is also focused on innovating new programs and partnerships. One way they are doing this is with Sask Polytechnics first independent degree program, the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing. Another is their continuing Collaborative Nursing education program offered in partnership with the University of Regina, a program which serves 1,400 students over four years. Finally, Sask Polytech and the U of R are also working together to deliver an online Masters of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program, the first of this kind of partnership in Canada. However, the real strength of the School of Nursing is the diversity of their student body. From the very beginning they have helped hundred of internationally educated nurses transition into professional practice in Saskatchewan. Since 2008 this has been done through the IEN Assessment Centre, the only one of its kind in the province. The role of the

centre is to assess the competencies of internationally educated nurses, and if any gaps are identified they are directed to a program offered by the School of Nursing. Closer to home, First Nations enrolment is growing, and now make up 12 per cent of the student body in Sask Polytech’s nursing education programs. “These graduates contribute to a more representative workforce within the province and they are inspiring role models and leaders within the nursing profession,” says Colleen Grant, manager of communications at Sask Polytechn. With so much to celebrate, Sask Polytech has planned a variety of events and activities to commemorate their 50th Anniversary. Festivities were held at the Regina campus on April 28 and 29, and will be held in Saskatoon on May 12 and 13, and feature banquets, campus tours, guest speakers, as well as a fashion show highlighting nursing uniforms over the decades. Addition-

We salute all nurses in the province for your ongoing dedication and commitment to the profession and the people you care for. We are proud to work with you as the only institution in Saskatchewan whose education spans the entire family of nursing. MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM • Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program (offered in collaboration with the University of Regina) BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS • Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Degree Completion • Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) (offered in collaboration with the University of Regina) DIPLOMA PROGRAMS • Practical Nursing • Psychiatric Nursing POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM • Occupational Health Nursing ADVANCED CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS • Critical Care Nursing • Diabetes Education for Health Care Professionals • Emergency Nursing • Perioperative Nursing/LPN • Perioperative Nursing/RN APPLIED CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS • Diabetes Education for Health Care Providers • Medical Device Reprocessing Technician • Nursing Re-entry • Orientation to Nursing in Canada for Internationally Educated Nurses

A StarPhoenix photo from 1970 of the first nursing diploma graduation. Ph o To :

SASk

Learn more at saskpolytech.ca/Nursing #YESThisIsNursing

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

POSTDEGREE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Uof S Nursing

MASTER OF NURSING

Learn Where YOU Live

Saskatoon | Regina | Prince Albert | Northern SK | Yorkton

Offering undergraduate and d grad duate programming, the University of Saskatchewan Co ollege e of Nursing teaches interproffessional education, research and d pracctice. We expand our reach h beyond d our bord ders and d makke a diff fference in the worlld. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE NURSE PRACTITIONER | POSTGRADUATE NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATE | DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN NURSING SAS00373080_1_1

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national nursing week

health care changes coming CArol t odd

Saskatchewan nurses are guardedly optimistic about a planned change to reduce the number of health districts in the province. In March, the Saskatchewan Government introduced legislation to consolidate the current 12 health districts into a single district to cover the entire province. In a news release, Health Minister Jim Reiter said the legislation will improve frontline patient care by removing arbitrar y health region boundaries. The minister has also been quoted as saying the move is a consolidation of management and governance, not a consolidation of the front-line health care. “If we do this properly, you will see no difference or hopefully some improvements,” he says. And, that could be good news for Saskatchewan’s 12,000 or so nurses and t h e p at i e n t s t h e y c a r e for. The presidents of both the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) and the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA) are hopeful that the change lead to improved quality of care

Tracy Zambory, SUN president. Ph o To : S UN

Joanne Peterson, president of the SRNA, believes the provincial government’s plan to reduce the number of health districts in the province is an opportunity to improve the health care system. P h oT o: S R NA

that patients receive in the province, and could even lead to some cost savings, as well. The SRNA is the professional self-regulatory body for the province’s Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (RN/NP). Its 11,500 members celebrate its 100 th anniversary this year. SUN

is the trade union, which represents the province’s almost 12,000 RNs, RN/ NPs and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs). Both organizations participated in the review leading up to the legislation being tabled, stressing that the needs of patients s h o u l d c o m e fi r s t a n d that increasing the scope

of care provided by RNs and RN/NPs will free up doctor’s time and emerge n c y r o o m c a s e l o a d s . That, they say, will lead to improved care and cost savings. SUN president Trac y Zambor y says research shows a health care system with RNs and NPs as key drivers of the health care team benefits everyone. “Maximizing everybody on the nursing team, it is a win-win for the system and mostly for the patients that we care for in Saskatche wan. And, that really is the focus of

what we need to be talking about. The minute we do that and keep people out of the [emergency rooms], that it will save money,” she says. Joanne Petersen, president of SRNA, also believes the change to the number of health districts is an opportunity to improve the health care system in the province, with a broader role for RNs and NPs in emergency rooms and long term care. “For example, where the NP is the primary care provider for a long term care facility rather than relying on doctors who are very busy. You put in a NP whose focus is on the chronic disease management in that home, with accessibility to the NP who is exclusively for the facility, there is an example in Regina where the medication was reduced by 80 per cent, with a NP doing evidence-based [medication] review. Think of the savings across the system, not only for that [facility], the system for the province,” she says. Pe t e r s e n a l s o p o i n t s to examples in northern Saskatchewan, where RNs with advanced training are the primary health pro-

viders who can independently diagnose and treat limited common medical disorders using established clinical tools. “If it can work in the North, imagine the possibilities in under-serviced areas in rural communities in the south. We are really excited about this,” she says. Zambory also stresses the role that nurses can play in reducing the pressure on the province’s health care system. “The more we utilize the expertise of RN and NPs, this will definitely ease the pressure on the system, especially the capacity of ERs, which are among the highest cost elements of the system,” she says. She also believes that NPs, especially in rural areas, can provide care for many minor health concerns, freeing up doctor and emergency rooms to deal with more serious conditions. Both women also believe that nurses can provide additional care if able to prescribe medications. “We know this will help people access care,” Zambor y says. “It ’s all about accessibility for the patient and the opportunities for our population.”

Integrity, Leadership, Innovation Celebrating 100 years of profession-led registered nursing regulation in Saskatchewan. Thank you to our 11,500 members for the positive impact you have in the lives of patients, clients, residents, and families.

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Every day, nurses across Saskatchewan work to bring us expert care. This week, we celebrate their invaluable contribution to the healthcare team. Happy nurses week to all the hard working nurses across the province.

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national nursing week

Learning with robots:

U of S College of Nursing uses high tech tools at northern schools Ashleigh MAt tern

At the Northlands College nursing skills lab in Air Ronge, nursing students listen attentively to assistant professor Carol Bullin. The lessons they’ll learn today are no different than the ones their cohorts in Saskatoon will learn, but the delivery is a bit novel: Bullin is speaking to her class through the RP7i mobile robot. The robot is one tool of many used in the distributed learning program at the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing. Other tools include video and web conferencing, mobile devices, online learning environments, and good, old-fashioned face-to-face instruction. “You choose the right tool for the situation,” says Heather Exner-Pirot, strategist for outreach and Indigenous engagement with the College of Nursing. “We don’t do everything with the robot all the time just because we have the robot. They use the robot when it’s the right tool.” The distributed learning program has the potential to revolutionize both education and healthcare in rural Saskatchewan. The students who enter the program tend to be over 25, and have deep local connections. Moving to the city for four years to study is not usually an option. Distributed learning is

At the Northlands College nursing skills lab in Air Ronge, nursing students listen to their profession Carol Bullin through the RP7i mobile robot, as part of the distributed learning program at the University of Saskatchewan. P hoT o: UN iv ERSiTY of SAS kAT Ch EWA N

an opportunity for them to go to school, and when they graduate, they’re more likely to stay in their communities. “Everywhere in the world there are issues of rural recruitment, so for us this is a really good solution,” Exner -Pirot says. “For me, it’s about better quality of life in our rural and remote areas.” The college prefers the term “distributed learning” over “remote” or “distance” education because the latter terms depend on your perspective. Who is distant -- the school or the student? For the students learning in

a northern community, it’s the school that’s distant, not them. In the first cohort to interact with the robot in 2012, a student satisfaction survey found that 94 per cent of students felt comfortable with the combination of the robot and an on-site registered nurse. When the idea of using the robot for education first arose, though, not everyone was quick to jump on board. “Some people said this won’t work in the north, or this won’t work with Indigenous people; the techno-

logy is too different; it’s not culturally appropriate,” Exner-Pirot says. But the students accepted the new technology quickly. Bullin was an early adopter, and in a video on the College of Nursing website, she relates one of her experiences using the robot: “By the second lab in, the students and the instructor were going to go for a coffee break, and they said, ‘Oh, Carol, can we get you anything? Can we pick you up a coffee?’ And I’m going, are you guys being funny or what? Then they caught

Registered Psychiatric Nurses partner with people for optimal mental health

y name is Rachel Desnomie and I am a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) working in longterm care. Being an RPN to me is not only a job but a partnership with our patients to guide them to optimal mental health. Did you know we’ve been partnering with people in Saskatchewan to improve mental health since 1947? What is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)?

RPNs arent like other nurses – we are a distinct profession. We are different from a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) because of our special training in mental health. You’ll find us working in people’s homes, workplaces, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health clinics and more. I chose psychiatric nursing as a career because I understand optimal health includes mental wellness in addition to physical wellness. As an RPN, I get to know the whole person and not just their illness. I can provide holistic care to a person’s physical body and to their mental wellbeing. I work to restore optimal mental health by working collaboratively with other health professionals. Each professional has a unique perspective and a different way of achieving the same goal, that goal being our patient’s optimal health. It’s these differences that make a healthcare team so effective and, as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, I am proud to be an integral partner in my patient’s care.

themselves, and they said, ‘We really thought you were there.’” Originally, the robot was designed for clinical settings, not educational ones. The RP7i and other mobile robots like it are used for Telehealth -- a means to quickly connect to specialized healthcare professionals when none are available on location. For example, Telehealth can allow patients to meet with specialists in their own community, without having to drive hours to the nearest major centre. The U of S was the first

What is health?

mental

Mental health is a state of wellbeing where every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.1 Mental health means striking a balance in all aspects of your life: social, physical, spiritual, economic and psychological. Reaching a balance is a learning process, and at times you may tip the balance too much in one direction and have to find your footing again Your personal balance will be unique, and your challenge will be to stay mentally healthy by keeping that balance.2 Optimal mental health is an ongoing process. Scratches on the skin eventually heal, mental health requires continuous support from mental health professionals like me. Often many physical illnesses have a psychological or mental health component. As an RPN, I have the skills to teach techniques that assist in alleviating stress and restoring optimal mental health. You may not know this, but many people suffer from mental health problems. According to a 2011 report by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, nearly 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health or addiction problem3 – that’s roughly 7.2 million people! The mental health problems could be stress from environmental factors, work/school factors, or relationships with friends and family. What is mental illness? Is it different from mental health? Mental illness, like a physical illness, can affect anyone – it does not discriminate! It is a diagnosable illness that needs to be treated by mental health professionals like RPNs. Some of these illnesses include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addictions, schizophrenia and bi-polar

school in the world to use the robot for teaching. They’ve also founded a northern nursing network with schools in Greenland, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland and northern Canada to share best practices in distributed nursing education. The quality of the program is just as good as what they would receive in the city -- the students have to pass the same regulatory exams to qualify to work as a nurse -- and in some ways, the students in the distributed learning program are actually ahead of their citybased counterparts. “If students are learning about robotics or mobile devices in the classroom, they’ll be more comfortable to use Telehealth when they graduate,” says Exner-Pirot. She’s especially excited about the potential distributed learning has to bridge the rural-urban gap and give more remote areas a higher quality life. “It’s a great impact for rural communities. The big trend has been urbanization, and technology has created more of a gap – things are happening more quickly in cities, and rural areas are getting left behind. So how can we use technology to create those opportunities for rural and remote communities? They can be the winners by increasing technology, not the losers.”

disorder. These illnesses have symptoms that can affect each individual differently, but ultimately they alter your thought processes which can affect your perception. This differs from mental health which is a state of being – you might compare this to someone that exercises to keep their body physically healthy. One might have good mental health but still have a mental illness, but at the same time, someone might have poor mental health but no mental illness. It’s important to remember that mental illness is not in the control of the individual that has it. No one chooses to have a mental illness. What does good mental health look like? It might be taking your dog for a walk, enjoying a meal with friends, reading a book on a beach, listening to music and other methods that will help you cope with stress. Mental health is different for every individual. Parts of physical health are part of mental health such as diet, exercise, and rest. Good mental health is the ability the ability to express and manage emotions, build relationships, manage stress and live what you define as a meaningful life. What if I need help? We can be our own worst enemies and judge ourselves the harshest; this can prevent us from openly discussing our mental health concerns and recovering. Talk to your doctor. Talk to a mental health professional. Talk to your family. Visit your local mental health clinic or dial 811 for the HealthLine. If it is an urgent concern where harm is imminent call 911 or visit the ER. Please don’t keep your mental health burden bottled up inside. RPNs will partner with you and guide you to recovery. Sources: 1 World Health Organization (2014). Mental health: a state of well=being. http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/ 2 Canadian Mental Health Association. Your Mental Health. (http://www. cmha.ca/mental-health/your-mental-health/) 3 Smetanin et al. (2011). The life and economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011-2041. Prepared for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Toronto: RiskAnalytica.

RPNAS - Mental Health Awareness and Stiugma Reduction Campaign - V3 - May 2017

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national nursing week

Saskatchewan Collaborative Programs in Nursing

for many RNs, entrepreneurship is a prescription for success Nursing may well be the most flexible and opportunity-filled career there is. After all, how many other professions offer so many possible routes to licensure, areas of specialization and choices of work settings? Today, while most registered nurses (RN) are employed by healthcare facilities, an increasing number of RNs are foregoing institutional employment, supplementing their income with consulting work or launching second careers as independent nurse entrepreneurs. RNs may choose self-employment for a variety of reasons. For some, it combines the satisfaction of nursing with the flexibility of setting one’s own work schedules and the opportunity to boost their incomes. For others, self-employment offers new challenges and the ability to specialize and customize their services. Still others choose the entrepreneurial path because they need or want to work from home. For today’s RNs, entrepreneurship opportunities abound, and new opportunities are just around the corner. Changing demographics, novel technolo-

gies and new regulations all provide entrepreneurial inspiration for businessminded nurses. Here are just a few of the possibilities for RN-run business ventures. ■ Think old. The aging population will continue to open new doors for nursing entrepreneurs over the next several decades. One area that will offer a variety of opportunities for RNs is supporting caregivers of the very old – people aged 90 and over. This group tripled over the past three decades and is expected to quadruple over the next four decades. Nurses who have experience in caring for elderly patients will continue to be needed as care managers who are responsible for assisting disabled, elderly people and those suffering from diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. ■ Follow the law. RNs with an interest in law can consider becoming legal nurse consultants. These medical-legal specialists who are trained to use their medical expertise to assist legal teams in deciphering medical records and orders, are among the bestpaid members of the nursing community. ■ Plan ahead. Another lucrative option for RNs is to

become certified life care planners. Nurses who choose this route work with elderly or terminally ill patients and their families to ensure that a program of quality healthcare is in place. ■ Speak out. Many nurses with specialized skills or knowledge offer seminars or workshops for other RNs or the interested public. If a RN has developed a specialty – particularly one that is currently a “hot topic”– and enjoys public speaking, giving seminars is a good way to promote his or her services. ■ Find solutions. Is there something that would make nurses’ jobs or lives easier if only it existed? If an RN has an idea for a tool, device or application, he or she should figure out how to bring it to life. ■ Combine your interests. Many a business has been born from nurses blending their medical training and their interests. RNs have been “reborn” as health/ wellness coaches, fitness consultants, foot care specialists, massage therapists, prenatal/birth coaches, and much more. For nurses who can combine imagination and determination, the sky’s the limit. (MNS)

Advancing excellence in nursing. Students in the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) program and the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program (CNPP) acquire the knowledge and skills for quality nursing care in Saskatchewan. The guidance and mentoring offered by Saskatchewan’s nurses fosters excellence in the next generation of nursing professionals. We congratulate all nurses in the province for your ongoing dedication and commitment to the profession of nursing and the people you care for.

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Continuing care assistants deliver hands-on personal care. During National Nursing Week and every day, let’s recognize the important work they do.

LPNs are educated, skilled, competent, and caring professionals who provide high quality nursing care. Join us in celebrating the critical role LPNs play in the delivery of health care every day.

www.cupesaskhcc.ca.

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