Blogs

Canadian Nurse blogs

From nurse to patient: the lessons I have learned about my career from the other side of the health-care relationship

posted 3 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/04/15/dinfirmiere-a-patiente Severe illness gives nurse ‘a new lens through which to view the world’ By April Fox April 15, 2024 istockphoto.com/FrazaoStudio An important role of the nurse is health educator, to optimize patient knowledge of their health conditions. Because knowledge is power, information enables patients to take an active role in their health. My pursuit of a career in nursing was interwoven with a desire to help people in times of illness and to contribute to my community with a sense of purpose and passion. For fifteen years, I thrived in the perioperative environment, ...

Backlash won’t stop Birgit Umaigba from advocating for more equity and diversity in health care

posted 10 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/04/08/birgit-umaigba-plaider-equite-diversite Determined to make Canada collect and publish race-based data in health care By Laura Eggertson April 8, 2024 Ian Patterson “I always liked what the nurse did,” Birgit Umaigba says. “I like the fact I can go into a patient’s room and change the environment — make them clean — give them some light and life throughout the 12 hours of my shift. That gives me a lot of satisfaction.” In a hierarchical health-care culture that expects nurses to follow orders and support the status quo, Birgit Umaigba stands out as an unapologetic advocate. The ...

Extreme heat, fire, and flooding: how climate change can impact your patients

posted 16 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/04/02/changements-climatiques-sur-vos-patients Examples you can expect to see in your practice, and tools and resources that can help By Zachary Daly, Kaitlin Bloemberg, & Caroline Murphy April 2, 2024 istockphoto.com/LeoPatrizi Through such events as extreme heat, floods, and wildfires, we are witnessing increases in the spread of disease, adverse effects on physical and mental health, and disruptions to our health-care system. We are nurses, from varied backgrounds, who care deeply about the issue of climate change. As has been made clear in Health Canada’s recent report, Health ...

An evidence-based review on the safe and effective use of antiseptic agents in health-care environments

posted 24 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/03/25/utilisation-sure-efficace-agents-antiseptiques Alcohol and chlorhexidine: practical guidance for health-care workers By Ali Bayrouti March 25, 2024 istockphoto.com/Natali_Mis Alcohol and chlorhexidine are easily accessible in most health-care environments. While both support infection control, they differ in their intended uses, mechanisms of action, spectrum of activity, residual effect, and potential adverse effects. The appropriate use and concentration of each depend on the clinical situation and the patient’s condition. Takeaway messages Routine hand hygiene is paramount ...

Why establishing psychological safety is crucial while teaching in a post-pandemic health-care setting

posted 03-18-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/03/18/securite-psychologique-enseignant-postpandemie How educators can help create a positive culture around continuous learning By Jennifer Dale-Tam March 18, 2024 istockphoto.com/FatCamera A nurse may not seek out educational resources if they have participated in a learning environment that was not supportive. When you employ the strategies described in this article in clinical settings, however, nurses will feel comfortable engaging with you. Creating safe spaces for nurses to learn is essential. Many of us have a fear of looking inept or incompetent to our peers if we do not know ...

A primer on ‘African diabetes’: what it is, how it can be treated, and why it’s important for your nursing practice

posted 03-11-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/03/11/diabete-africain An atypical form of diabetes prevalent in African populations, but with no known cause By Nathalie Côté, Kassandra Dignard, & Elena Hunt March 11, 2024 istockphoto.com/pecaphoto77 Providing culturally competent care is of great importance, and the treatment of diabetes in Canada’s ethnocultural populations involves understanding their culture and physiology. Takeaway messages It’s important that we understand “African diabetes” and how it differs from other types of diabetes. The role of the nurse consists of recognizing African clients at risk — ...

5 questions you should ask to ensure you’re providing culturally appropriate end-of-life care

posted 03-04-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/03/04/cinq-questions-fin-de-vie Customary rituals can bring much-needed comfort to the dying person and their family By Donna M. Wilson , Brooklyn A. Grainger, & Jean A. C. Triscott March 4, 2024 istockphoto.com/FatCamera When the end of life approaches, cultural customs are extremely important. Distinct rituals, activities, and behaviours are often carried out over the dying and bereavement trajectory. These rituals are comforting not only to the dying person but also to their family. Many developed countries are receiving a growing number of immigrants now, Canada included. The ...

How changing the narrative in nursing schools could be an important step towards decolonizing the workplace

posted 02-26-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/02/26/changement-discours-dans-ecoles Traditional and historical beliefs hinder diversity in the curriculum By Omarie Miller Hynds February 26, 2024 Courtesy of Omarie Miller Hynds “Nursing students are taught the importance of developing cultural competence to serve the needs of patients. However, it is equally important to apply cultural competence to meet the needs of our co-workers and peers,” says Omarie Miller Hynds. Throughout the course of my nursing education, the need to promote further diversity and inclusion within the profession became increasingly evident. This change is ...

Reducing turnover time: how nursing efficiency can prevent case delays and surgical cancellations

posted 02-20-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/02/20/reduire-le-temps-de-rotation Team-based approach includes parallel processes, better perioperative communication, effective use of runners and induction rooms By Mallory Browne February 20, 2024 istockphoto.com/vm Operating room nurses, through education, motivation, the efficient use of resources and personnel, and changes to processes, have the ability to significantly improve not only turnover time but also staff morale throughout the hospital. Takeaway messages Reducing turnover time — how long it takes for one patient to leave an operating room before a new one enters ...

How a hallmark study on post-arrest temperature management led to a critical change in practice

posted 02-12-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/02/12/normothermie-avantages-semblables-moins-risques Normothermia offers same benefit with less risk By Marianne M. Rowland February 12, 2024 istockphoto.com/PeopleImages It is amazing how research is so instrumental in informing our practice and supports best patient outcomes. It was the end of a busy day shift in the critical care unit (CCU), and I had just returned from the emergency department after being part of a talented team of professionals who successfully achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) post-arrest on a patient. I accompanied the patient to the unit, adrenaline ...

How the Calling All Nurses podcast is making change in challenging times

posted 02-05-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/02/05/balado-calling-all-nurses Retired trio of nurses tap into wealth of knowledge of next generation of nursing leaders By RaeAnn Hartman, Martha Russell, & Betty Tate February 5, 2024 Courtesy of Calling All Nurses podcast Martha Russell, Betty Tate, and RaeAnn Hartman created the Calling All Nurses podcast to connect and hear others’ stories and voices, an opportunity they had growing up in nursing, but one that has significantly shifted over the past 10 to 15 years. Can you tell us about the Calling All Nurses podcast? As three retired nurse educators, we knew we still had ...

Q&A: lifelong humanitarian looks back on her ‘challenging and immensely personally rewarding’ career of 50+ years

posted 01-29-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/01/29/jean-aitcheson-humanitaire-longue Jean Aitcheson has made 37 humanitarian trips to 10 countries By Jean Aitcheson January 29, 2024 Used with the permission of Jean Aitcheson Jean Aitcheson, on a recent mission to the Dominican Republic, helped distribute toothbrushes to children as part of an oral hygiene intiative. Editor’s note: Jean Aitcheson is an exemplary nurse who has devoted her life to global humanitarian work and has received numerous awards for her devotion to helping those in need. Canadian Nurse thanks Lynda Younghusband for conducting this interview with Jean earlier ...

All nurses are mental health nurses: reconciling the mind/body duality to enact holistic nurse practice

posted 01-22-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/01/22/tous-infirmier-sont-professionnels-sante-mentale Why it’s important to approach care from a place of compassion and genuine curiosity By Michelle Danda January 22, 2024 istockphoto.com/PamelaMoore Nurses can rise as leaders in the future of health care. We can embrace the narrative of helping the hardest to help, the people who are most marginalized, those who are suffering. All nurses are mental health nurses. By this I do not mean that all nurses work in specialized mental health (or psychiatric services). I mean that all nurses must understand that competent and ethical patient ...

MICRO changes for macro results: altering nursing goal-setting to maximize leadership potential

posted 01-15-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/01/15/micro-etablissement-des-objectifs A useful tool to help nurses safely triage their day and reduce stress By Kent Soltys January 15, 2024 istockphoto.com/PeopleImages Those who have used MICRO goals have noted that the mnemonic is designed to encourage ongoing questions. Intentionally designed to promote ongoing inquisition, this tool provides an opportunity to problem-solve barriers that are unique to a nurse’s area of practice or management. What does MICRO stand for? M — Manageable : Can the goal set be achieved under the current constraints or barriers faced by the practitioner? ...

Examining the quality of interactions between nurses and cognitively impaired residents in long-term care facilities

posted 01-08-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/01/08/qualite-des-interactions-soins-de-longue-duree Power dynamic between staff and clients can play a crucial role By Christine Meng January 8, 2024 istockphoto.com/Evrymmnt Social interaction and engagement are critical for the overall well-being of people living with dementia. Health-care professionals should prioritize opportunities for engagement to mitigate the negative effects of measures that limit socializing. Takeaway messages Most relations between nurses and people in long term care are hierarchical, with nurses having positional power. This affects the quality of the ...

What we can learn from treating grief as a journey into ‘sacred space’

posted 01-02-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/01/02/deuil-comme-un-voyage-dans-un-espace-sacre Advice on how to be a better healing presence for those experiencing loss By Karen Skillings January 2, 2024 istockphoto.com/triloks Bereaved folks overwhelmingly report being wounded again by the “comfort” they are offered from others. Words that are supposed to be soothing can be so discordant with what grieving family and friends are experiencing. I’ll never forget that night 47 years ago, when I arrived to work my shift on the maternity ward. I was a two-year graduate, a novice nurse. I was pleased to hear we had a labouring patient ...

Q&A: taking care of yourself to take care of others — the journey of self-care

posted 12-22-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/12/22/prendre-soin-soi-prendre-soin-autres Building resiliency will help ensure you have the capacity to respond to patients, clients, and loved ones By Lisa Alphonsus December 22, 2023 istockphoto.com/Shangarey Self-care is a journey of becoming — becoming stronger, more resilient, more in touch with your mental and emotional needs. It is a lifelong journey, one that will never be finished as long as you are alive. Why is self-care important? As nurses, we are caregivers, and we are good at it. Unfortunately, we are not always the best caregivers of ourselves. Self-care is important ...

How ID Now revolutionized nursing practice at a long-term care facility during COVID-19

posted 12-18-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/12/18/id-now-revolutionne-pratique-infirmiere Quicker results helped ensure interventions could be introduced sooner By Rebecca de Witte December 18, 2023 istockphoto.com/Tempura In addition to COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A and B require timely management to help reduce complexities among the elderly. Delays in receiving COVID-19 test results In the Brucelea Haven long-term care facility in Bruce County, Ontario, clinical support staff have been reflecting on the time taken for residents to receive their COVID-19 test results, which depends on the type ...

Holistic nursing and nurse coaching — why this could be the right type of speciality for you

posted 12-11-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/12/11/infirmiers-holistiques-et-encadrement If you’re questioning your approach to health and wellness, a change in practice may be in order By Kelly Rose Flanagan December 11, 2023 istockphoto.com/FredFroese Holistic nurses and nurse coaches are both experts in combining the tenets of health and well-being by using their expertise in nursing, and combining it with additional education in holism and coaching, to support individuals to improve overall wellness and individual growth. Takeaway messages Holistic nurses take a whole-person perspective, looking at the big picture in ...

‘I hope to run health centres where the staff want to work’ because it’s good for nurses & patients, Carli Fjeldberg says

posted 12-04-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/12/04/carli-fjeldberg-meilleur-memes-lorsqu-valorise Administrator knows from firsthand experience that nurses are at their best when they’re valued and nurtured By Laura Eggertson December 4, 2023 Nicole Romanoff Photography “As we continue to battle global nursing shortage crises, high patient volumes, and increased demands for long-term care beds, I hope to run health centres where the staff want to work,” Carli Fjeldberg says. “I want the place that they spend 12 hours a day, weekends, and holidays — missing time that they could be with friends or family — to be a wonderful place.” ...