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Canadian Nurse blogs

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

posted 2 hours ago
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.” ...

‘Everyone should have a home and experience safety and dignity. That is a pathway to healing.’

posted 7 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/11/27/bernie-pauly-consacre-carriere-reduction-mefaits Researcher Bernie Pauly has devoted her career to harm reduction By Laura Eggertson November 27, 2023 Trevor Townsend “We have complicated cultural feelings about addiction — that ‘people are doing this to themselves’ — rather than understanding addiction as a result of disconnection, or a response to trauma, colonization, and other systemic issues,” Bernie Pauly says. When Canada released the world’s first guidelines for managed alcohol programs in July, the groundbreaking document was due in large part to nurse/researcher Bernadette ...

My mental health journey: after 38 years of nursing, burnout, fuelled by COVID-19, finally caught up with me

posted 14 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/11/20/mon-parcours-en-sante-mentale Physical symptoms were early signs that I needed to seek help By Karen Pantusa November 20, 2023 istockphoto.com/valentinrussanov Seek help. Accept help. Take time for yourself. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I felt hurt by my employer and forgotten by my co-workers and management. Also, because of an administrative error with my long-term disability carrier, there was a two-week delay in my payment, leaving me to wonder how I was going to pay my mortgage at the end of the month. Courtesy of Karen Pantusa “I am thankful every day that my general ...

A 75-year-old presents with his wife noting that he is getting very forgetful. Why?

posted 20 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/11/14/nursingskl-maladie-dalzheimer NursingSKL clinical tip By NursingSKL November 14, 2023 iStock/ajr_images; NursingSKL In any patient with memory loss, it is important for a nurse to do the following two things: Perform a history to determine a progressive pattern of memory loss and changes in thinking patterns. Establish secondary causes of memory loss. Secondary causes of memory loss include: Thyroid-related issues: Ask if there are any other symptoms suggestive of thyroid dysfunction, including weight loss, alterations in energy levels, excessive fatigue, and changes ...

Why a long-term care mentorship program for internationally educated nurses is desperately needed

posted 28 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/11/06/programme-de-mentorat-en-soins-de-longue-duree Observership opportunity would rapidly give IENs the training and experience they need By Marilyn McGreer November 6, 2023 miodrag ignjatovic | istockphoto.com/cipella The LTC environment will provide IENs with an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the Canadian health-care system and how health-care professionals work together as a collaborative team to provide patient-centred care. As a retired CNA-certified (gerontology) licensed practical nurse educator, with extensive experience working in the long-term care (LTC) setting, ...

Evidence-based addictions treatment and harm reduction in hospitals are key to reducing patient-initiated discharges

posted 10-30-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/10/30/diminue-le-nombre-de-conges-prematures A review of the literature with recommendations for collaboration and practice By Sara Ling October 30, 2023 istockphoto.com/Juanmonino Many studies have found that people who have substance use disorders and/or mental health concerns are among those who are most likely to self-discharge from hospital. Naturally, this raises the question: what makes this population more likely to initiate their hospital discharge? In this research article, I describe patient-initiated discharges and explore some of the reasons people with substance use disorders ...

The ‘soul crushing’ reality of what happens when patients are forced into overcrowded emergency departments

posted 10-23-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/10/23/patients-constraints-dans-services-durgence Here’s how we can do better and offer the right care in the right place By Ashley Woytuik October 23, 2023 istockphoto.com/FrazaoStudio The right care in the right place at the right time, for all patients, will make a huge difference in patient outcomes, quality of care, nurses’ satisfaction with the care they provide, and patients’ satisfaction with the care they receive. You’re in the wrong place. It’s not your fault that you’re in the emergency department (ED). I’ve heard the story a million times: the clinics are closed, you can’t ...

When it gives you that warm glow in your heart, that’s the nursing specialty to pursue

posted 10-16-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/10/16/fait-chaud-coeur-specialite-infirmiere An inspirational story of how one student followed her passion into psychiatric and mental health nursing By Kris Still October 16, 2023 Courtesy of Kris Still Kris Still discovered she had a passion for psychiatric and mental health nursing while she was a student. After graduation, some people discouraged her from pursuing one type of practice. “But I was determined. Mental health was my passion. I was driven and motivated to devour all the knowledge and experience I could in this field,” she says. I may not wear scrubs or carry a stethoscope, ...

A 55-year-old woman presents with a headache and flashing lights. Why?

posted 10-10-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/10/10/nursingskl-hypertension NursingSKL clinical tip By NursingSKL October 10, 2023 iStock/ajr_images; NursingSKL Hypertension is one of the most prevalent conditions that we see as nurses and doctors. Hypertension can be considered to be primary or secondary. There are two very important things that you as a nurse need to consider when assessing a patient for blood-pressure issues: Perform a thorough examination to determine if there is a family or past history of either primary or secondary causes of hypertension (for instance, things like renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma ...

Unseen inequity: why Canadian nurses need to know about environmental racism

posted 10-03-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/10/03/inegalites-invisibles-racisme-environnemental Linking health, justice, and the environment for responsive nursing practice By Alysha T. Jones October 3, 2023 istockphoto.com/FangXiaNuo Including efforts to address environmental racism within the social justice mandate of nursing could diversify the range of perspectives that hold power in health care and health policy-making. Takeaway messages Environmental racism is a human rights and health issue of relevance for nurses in Canada committed to advancing racial and social justice. Mounting ecological crises are impacting ...

Breastfeeding advocate creates ‘positive changes in the lives of marginalized women and children’

posted 09-25-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/09/25/militante-de-lallaitement-shela-hirani Award-winning nurse/researcher Shela Hirani works to dismantle barriers By Laura Eggertson September 25, 2023 Shiza Hirani Shela Hirani’s current research and teaching related to breastfeeding focuses on the concerns immigrant and refugee women, as well as other vulnerable populations. She wants to ensure they have information, support, and safe places to nurse their children. “I’m advocating for breastfeeding in public places like parks, restaurants, shopping malls, airports, and all the other facilities where mothers are with babies,” Hirani ...

Getting hit by a car: a case study and reflection from a fourth-year nursing student

posted 09-18-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/09/18/se-faire-percuter-par-un-vehicule Exploration of treatment journey contains important lessons for health-care providers By Nicholas Stinson September 18, 2023 Courtesy of Nicholas Stinson Nicholas Stinson was hit by a car and, in his article, shares his insight into the recovery process, including his experience with pain. “I found that at every instance of pain there was a cost to pain relief. Relieving pain requires a constant balancing of suitability, side effects and access,” he says. Getting hit by a car is not what you would expect. If TV and movies are to be believed, you ...

A 73-year old man presents with pins and needles in his hand and simultaneously has a sensation of having a ‘curtain being pulled down’ over his right eye. Why?

posted 09-11-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/09/11/nursingskl-paresthesie NursingSKL clinical tip By NursingSKL September 11, 2023 iStock/ajr_images; NursingSKL As a nurse, you will hear patients presenting with the sensation of “pins and needles.” There are two critical things to consider when assessing a patient with altered sensation: What is the location? The exact location can help differentiate if the cause is from pathology in the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerve. For instance, in a stroke the paresthesias will be unilateral in nature. In a patient with bilateral pins and needles, it may be related to diabetic neuropathy, ...

As the pandemic fades, ‘I continue to wrestle with the impact that visitation policies have had on my grief’

posted 09-05-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/09/05/pandemie-politiques-de-visite I’ve been on both sides of the iPad as my personal and professional lives have collided By Mahoganie Hines September 5, 2023 istockphoto.com/CStudio The way in which visitation policies were enacted throughout the pandemic had a profound impact on nurses. Too often nurses were not asked for their input. Nor was the impact that these policies had, not only on nurses’ practice but on us as human beings, considered. In late 2020, the health of one of my favourite and most cherished people, my grandmother (who I called Granny), deteriorated. We could not ...

Bringing families back and improving patient outcomes: why nurses should cheer the lifting of visitation restrictions

posted 08-28-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/08/28/rassembler-les-familles-de-nouveau It’s time to recognize the vital role of family engagement in health care By Laura-Lee Nuttall August 28, 2023 istockphoto.com/FrazaoStudio The undeniable cost of closing health-care doors to families during the pandemic has highlighted the need for a critical examination of the decisions that were made, and continue to be made, regarding hospital visitation policies. Since the emergence of COVID-19, health-care visitation policies have been in flux. Recently, however, many pandemic-related restrictions — including limited visiting hours, screening ...

The “I” in conflict: what dealing with complaints taught me about my own struggles

posted 08-21-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/08/21/faire-abstraction-je-resolution-conflits Why training in conflict mediation should be essential in health profession education By Sanda S. August 21, 2023 istockphoto.com/asiseeit Our first reaction when someone is angry, voices a negative opinion, or asks “to talk to the manager” is to become defensive and take it personally. But it can often be better to create space for someone to voice their opinion, no matter how out of bounds that is, without judgment, being fully present but not involved. “I would never be able to do your job!” is the main comment I get when people hear about ...

A 53-year-old presents with ‘indigestion’ following playing basketball. Here is their ECG. Why do they have chest pain?

posted 08-14-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/08/14/nursingskl-douleur-thoracique NursingSKL clinical tip By NursingSKL August 14, 2023 iStock/ajr_images; NursingSKL Retrosternal chest pain is a medical emergency. Potentially being the first person to assess a patient with this condition places a nurse in a critically important part of the health-care team as minutes can matter between life and death. There are two very important things that must be considered when assessing a patient with chest pain: Are they very ill? To assess this, we need to answer a series of questions: what are the patient’s vital signs? Are they hypoxic? ...

Wound, ostomy and continence care CEO advocates for recognition for nurses with specialized skills, credentials

posted 08-08-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/08/08/cathy-harley-plaie-stomie-continence Cathy Harley adopted a business mindset to advancing nursing practice By Laura Eggertson August 8, 2023 Courtesy of Cathy Harley Cathy Harley is the chief executive officer of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada and a strong advocate for nurses to have their specialties and experience recognized and rewarded. “In a lot of provinces, nurses aren’t paid for having additional knowledge and skills,” Harley says. “They are classified and paid as a registered nurse even though they have a specialization.” Almost 35 years ago, ...

Enjoy that coffee break: why your favourite pick-me-up has several health benefits

posted 07-31-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/07/31/cafe-bienfaits-pour-la-sante Popular beverage can help prevent cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s — and more By Heather Ead July 31, 2023 istockphoto.com/amenic181 Research shows that, in moderation, the components within coffee can provide health benefits. Takeaway messages: Enjoyed in moderation, coffee can provide many health benefits. Regular intake of coffee can be part of a healthy diet in helping to prevent cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and more. In the hectic and demanding world of nursing, it is not uncommon to hear a colleague say, “I need ...

Q&A: Checking in with the N.W.T.’s deputy minister of health a year after she’s settled into the role

posted 07-24-2023
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2023/07/24/sous-ministre-de-la-sante-jo-anne-cecchetto Jo-Anne Cecchetto also maintains a clinical practice to help keep her ‘grounded’ By Jo-Anne Cecchetto July 24, 2023 Angela Gzowski Photography “Communication is so important, and I would encourage every nurse to continue to tell their stories and support one another. One of the most endearing characteristics of nurses is their ability to care for others, and, unfortunately, this can also be at the cost of their own self-care. It is important that nurses look out for one another and themselves,” says Jo-Anne Cecchetto. Editor’s note: ...