Blogs

Commemorating through remembrance: Edmundston School of Nursing, a chapter forever etched in New Brunswick’s history

posted 2 days ago

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/05/13/faire-oeuvre-de-memoire Exploring the past, honouring the present, and looking to the future By Renée Guimond-Plourde May 13, 2026 Courtesy of Studio Laporte (1975) / Graphics by Jasmine Plourde (2025) Pictured above are the nurses from the very first graduating class of l’École de formation infirmière d’Edmundston (1973-1975). Front row: Jacinthe Dubé, Denise Thibodeau, Colombe Poitras, Lyne Tremblay, Renée Corbin, Marise Laforge, Linda Leblanc, Denise Tardif, Rachel Vienneau, Mariette Cyr, Micheline Marquis, Linda Morin, Michèle Béchard, Denise Levesque, Nicole Levesque, Louise ...

‘To every nurse: your work matters. Your voice matters. Your presence makes a difference.’

posted 3 days ago

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/05/11/ensemble-des-infirmieres-votre-travail-compte CNA president’s message during National Nursing Week By Kimberly LeBlanc May 11, 2026 “As we celebrate National Nursing Week, it is also important to acknowledge the strength and resilience of the nursing community. The demands of the profession are real, and the challenges are significant. Yet, nurses continue to show up, with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to care,” CNA president Kimberly LeBlanc says. Across Canada and around the world, nurses stand at the intersection of science and compassion. We are the steady ...

How unleashing the power of embedded nursing research can drive health system transformation

posted 10 days ago

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/05/04/potentiel-de-la-recherche-infirmiere-integree Conducting research within health systems helps generate findings that can be implemented to improve patient care By Alyssa Indar, Nikki Marks, Salima Ladak, & Pam Hubley May 4, 2026 istockphoto.com/FatCamera By conducting research in the setting where it will be applied, there are opportunities to generate tailored findings that can be implemented in health care to improve patient care and formalize nursing knowledge. Why embedded nurse research? The role of nursing has continued to evolve in response to the increasingly complex ...

The highly visible nurse: why nursing in remote and rural communities is distinct

posted 17 days ago

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/04/27/linfirmiere-tres-visible Being seen in the community made me highly accountable and pushed me to hold my responsibilities with care By Cates Bayabay April 27, 2026 istockphoto.com/izusek Nursing practice in rural and remote settings is distinct. Rural/remote nurses are inherently visible to the community, and with this visibility comes power and accountability. “Aanniasiuqti! Aanniasiuqti!” the kids at the elementary school waved to me as I passed by. Aanniasiuqti, meaning “nurse” in Inuktitut, became my identity when I started practising in remote, northern communities. ...

Addressing the nursing shortage in Canada: the need for PhD-prepared nurses to lead transformative change

posted 24 days ago

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/04/20/necessite-infirmieres-dun-doctorat Formal structures are required to support nurses to pursue doctoral education without leaving clinical practice behind By Michelle Danda April 20, 2026 istockphoto.com/Marco VDM The risk of not supporting nurses to pursue PhD-level education is that theory-based science and research in the discipline of nursing will decrease because nurses lack the research training necessary to be principal investigators on interdisciplinary teams. Canada is facing a critical nursing shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic and concurrent global crises (Tomblin ...

Involuntary mental health care in B.C.: the case for expanding nursing involvement in policy and practice

posted 04-13-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/04/13/soins-de-sante-mentale-involontaires Moral and ethical complexities of involuntary treatment create significant challenges for nurses By Angela Russolillo April 13, 2026 istockphoto.com/ljubaphoto The knowledge, skills and evidence base for expanded nursing roles in the care of people with mental health and substance use disorders already exist. What’s missing is the political motivation to implement these changes and provide the necessary resources and support. In the British Columbia (B.C.) mental health-care system, nurses occupy a complex position at the intersection of care ...

‘I’ve devoted my life to making a difference in people’s lives,’ Strongest Families Institute co-founder says

posted 04-07-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/04/07/patricia-lingley-pottie-institut-familles-solides Patricia Lingley-Pottie shares how tragedy motivated her to choose a career in research and mental health care after years of pediatric nursing By Laura Eggertson April 7, 2026 Stacie Corrigan Photography “I’m very involved with the care that we deliver from a nursing perspective, from a consultation perspective,” Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie says. When Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie thinks about why she chose a career in research and mental health care after years of pediatric nursing, she remembers the face of a small girl named Judy. ...

Feeding at the end of life: a pediatric nurse’s dilemma

posted 03-30-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/03/30/lalimentation-en-fin-de-vie The importance of creating room for reflection, especially when we are stuck between what we know and what we are allowed to do By Joanne Tay March 30, 2026 istockphoto.com/ridvan_celik Feeding, for many families, is an expression of love. It is care. It is a connection. Especially when a child has been on enteral feeds for a long time, the idea of stopping feels unbearable. Pediatric palliative care is unlike any other type of nursing. It takes courage, compassion, and a kind of emotional endurance to walk with families through the darkest moments of ...

Health-care workers are not heroes

posted 03-23-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/03/23/ne-font-pas-preuve-de-bravoure-heroique We’re human, and we carry grief. So take the time to reflect. Acknowledge what weighs you down. Find a way to let it out before it breaks you. By Kent Soltys March 23, 2026 istockphoto.com/Tempura Some people say nursing is a calling. Some say it’s an art. Some say it’s just a job. The truth is, it’s all of those things, and more. We often hear it said: “health-care workers are heroes.” But the truth is, we’re not. We’re human. We are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends, partners, and colleagues — just like everyone else. ...

Updating a hospital-wide bowel protocol: reviewing the benefits for patients

posted 03-16-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/03/16/protocole-intestinal-a-lechelle-de-lhopital Significant reduction in constipation rates 3 days after admission to hospital By Heather Ead March 16, 2026 istockphoto.com/andresr By increasing awareness of the benefits of employing a bowel protocol as part of the strategy to optimize outcomes, nurses can proactively address this issue and secure improvements in patient care. In the fast-paced hospital environment, there can be challenges that lead to negative patient outcomes, extended length of stay, and increased care costs. While it may be common knowledge that bowel health and ...

Sandwiches for all: a story about the values of kindness, compassion and empathy that shaped my nursing career

posted 03-09-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/03/09/sandwichs-pour-tout-le-monde I got scolded for giving a little food from the ER fridge to someone who needed it By Sheri McPhee March 9, 2026 istockphoto.com/SDI Productions Compassionate care begins with self-awareness. A natural extension of kindness, it is to meet others where they are, giving from the heart. Takeaway messages Food insecurity is a serious and growing problem in Canada Values of kindness, empathy and compassion are paramount to providing good nursing care Nurses need their head, hands and heart to make difference The world’s worst sandwiches are ...

Ghana Field School ‘changes perspectives’ about the impact of the social determinants of health

posted 03-02-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/03/02/tonya-roy-leisha-vandermey Tonya Roy and Leisha Vandermey brought together by passion for global health By Laura Eggertson March 2, 2026 Courtesy of Tonya Roy and Leisha Vandermey Unlike other volunteers, who may visit a location once and never return, Tonya Roy, left, and Leisha Vandermey “have been back multiple times and continue to invest in the community,” Vandermey says. Their investment in increasing the supply of clean water in the area by digging a well (above) has paid off by helping to decrease malaria levels, says Roy. The first summer Tonya Roy and Leisha Vandermey ...

How best practice guidelines can support culture change in long-term care: palliative care in the last 12 months of life

posted 02-23-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/02/23/changement-culture-soins-longue-duree Case study of Idlewyld Manor reveals improved emergency department transfer rates and other positive outcomes By Elizabeth Wojtowicz, Jennifer Walker, & Bahar Karimi February 23, 2026 istockphoto.com/Xesai Many people entering LTC are in their final year of life. Initially, palliative care was only provided in the last weeks or days of life. However, starting this approach earlier can help make the remaining months, weeks and days more comfortable and less distressing. Takeaway messages When implementing a palliative approach to care ...

RN prescribing: leveraging Choosing Wisely Canada for evidenced-based practice

posted 02-17-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/02/17/prescription-infirmieres-choisir-avec-soin Recommendations help ensure that safety and best practices guide all nursing actions within expanded scope of practice By Jacqueline Follis & Mikhaila Alegria February 17, 2026 istockphoto.com/sturti Regardless of the province, or what is ordered or prescribed by nurses, it is essential from a safety perspective that current evidence and best practices guide all nursing actions within their expanded scope of practice. Takeaway messages Nurses have a longstanding responsibility to stay informed about best practices in patient care. ...

Increasing medication safety in the context of renal impairment

posted 02-09-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/02/09/securite-medicaments-insuffisance-renale Interprofessional and systemic considerations By Jason Cohen February 9, 2026 istockphoto.com/kali9 Strategies that nurses could implement to minimize the risk of inappropriate medication administration in the context of renal impairment include reading the entire medication order text, referring to medication monographs, reviewing renal blood work results, and consulting with the prescriber or pharmacist before medication administration. Takeaway messages Inappropriate medication prescription in the context of renal impairment is ...

Unleashing our power: engaging, leading, and transforming health together

posted 02-02-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/02/02/grdisa-transformer-ensemble-la-sante ‘Our strength as a profession depends on engagement, connection, and shared purpose,’ CNA CEO says By Valerie Grdisa February 2, 2026 The CNA Conference is a national call to action. It is where we will reconnect across roles, sectors, generations, and jurisdictions, and where we will demonstrate, with clarity and confidence, the power of nursing expertise to transform health systems and improve lives. We begin 2026 with a defining moment for nursing in Canada: the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is holding its first conference in eight years ...

‘A strong and united nursing advocacy voice’ needed now more than ever, Newfoundland and Labrador nurses say

posted 01-26-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/01/26/fort-et-rassembleur-terre-neuve-et-labrador CNA Chapter formed to ensure nursing voice influences health policy By Laura Eggertson January 26, 2026 istockphoto.com/KenWiedemann The Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter will focus on issues impacting nurses and the nursing profession at the provincial level, share members’ perspectives on federal issues, and bring national concerns and professional development opportunities to provincial members. Editor’s note: If you are committed to advancing nursing, passionate about leadership, and eager to make a difference, we invite you to ...

Considering working as a camp nurse? Here’s what you need to know

posted 01-19-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/01/19/vous-envisagez-de-travailler-dans-un-camp What to look for, what to ask, how to prepare, and how to find an opportunity that’s right for you By Stacey Contenti January 19, 2026 Courtesy of Stacey Contenti Camp nursing is an excellent opportunity if you are looking for a way to give back through volunteer work while experiencing new things. Camp nursing is a specialized area of nursing for which nurses provide medical care and support to staff and campers in overnight, day, sports or special needs camp settings. In many cases, camp nursing occurs during the summer months, although ...

How advanced practice nurse-led programs are transforming the way care is delivered in Victoria, B.C.

posted 01-12-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/01/12/menes-par-le-personnel-infirmier-clinique Community clinic focuses on people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and chronic illnesses By Tamara Barnett, Kellie Guarasci, Karen Lundgren, & Anne Drost January 12, 2026 From left, Tamara Barnett, Karen Lundgren, Kellie Guarasci, and Anne Drost are primary care nurses who work at the Cool Aid Community Health Centre in Victoria, B.C. The centre’s nurse-led hepatitis C program has effectively reached and treated more than 900 vulnerable individuals with hepatitis C while continually adapting to ...

An urgent call for paid nursing clinical placements

posted 01-05-2026

https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/01/05/remunerer-stages-cliniques-en-soins-infirmiers Cost-of-living crisis and nursing shortage emphasize the need to reconsider structure of apprenticeship By Kathy Dinh January 5, 2026 istockphoto.com/FrazaoStudioMX Nursing students are found to positively contribute to primary health care, directly assisting with patient care in the clinical setting. As such, there is no reason that they should not be compensated for their labour. Most nursing students are worried about their finances, with more than a quarter having contemplated dropping out or transferring programs because of financial ...

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