Blogs

Canadian Nurse blogs

As former president of CNA, what is the most important strength you would bring to the ICN position?

posted 15 hours ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/04/24/partie-2-de-3-sylvain-brousseau-candidature-cii Part 2 of 3: Sylvain Brousseau answers our questions on his ICN bid By Sylvain Brousseau April 24, 2025 Isabelle Michaud “My extensive experience in nursing leadership, governance, strategic planning, and global advocacy — combined with my commitment to mentoring and professional development — positions me well to contribute effectively to ICN and advance its mission of representing and empowering nurses worldwide,” Sylvain Brousseau says Editor’s note: Former CNA president Sylvain Brousseau is a candidate for the North America ...

Promoting planetary health to support our patients and our communities

posted 2 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/04/22/promouvoir-la-sante-planetaire 4 ways that nurses can reduce greenhouse gas emissions By Agnes T. Black and Kaitlin Bloemberg April 22, 2025 istockphoto.com/PavelMuravev Taking action to promote planetary health is a natural extension of nursing practice. Editor’s note: Today is Earth Day! Earth Day Canada continues to roll out environmental programs and projects with proven positive impacts in areas such as waste management, food waste and sustainable mobility. What exactly is planetary health? How can we, as nurses, work to promote the health of the planet and the ...

My learning evolution about coercive control since the Nova Scotia mass casualty of 2020

posted 7 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/04/17/controle-coercitif How I came to the ‘realization that coercive control is often a precursor to escalated violence, including homicide’ By April Steele April 17, 2025 istockphoto.com/pocketlight Some countries have introduced legislation criminalizing coercive control that recognizes patterns of behaviour — such as stalking, financial manipulation, and emotional intimidation — and holds perpetrators accountable. Editor’s note: On April 18 and 19, 2020, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman killed 22 people, injured three others, and set several fires in Nova Scotia before he was shot and ...

Interprofessional and collaborative care model in the emergency department of Montfort Hospital

posted 10 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/04/14/modele-de-soins-hopital-montfort Lessons learned By Josette Roussel , Patrice Lampron, & Natalie Ladouceur April 14, 2025 istockphoto.com/SDI Productions The pod model made it possible to standardize patient care and practices to better plan emergency department activities. There are now fewer fluctuations in the course of a day despite an increased number of patient visits and/or a lack of nurses. Indeed, the emergency department was able to function while providing high-quality care despite the shortage of RNs. Takeaway messages: Ensure good interprofessional collaboration ...

Understanding their stories: First Nations nurse brings wound, ostomy care to Indigenous communities

posted 17 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/04/07/infirmiere-premieres-nations-michelle-buffalo Michelle Buffalo’s patients ‘feel secure’ with her Indigenous background and specialized skills By Laura Eggertson April 7, 2025 Courtesy of Michelle Buffalo Good nursing practice isn’t always about telling patients a certain way to do things, Michelle Buffalo says. It’s also about listening. “It’s about letting your clients be comfortable enough to voice to you what they use as their traditional health and wellness practices.” Indigenous communities hold Michelle Buffalo’s heart. The registered nurse, who is a member of Alberta’s ...

Optimizing nursing practice: a francophone hospital’s innovative integration in Ontario

posted 24 days ago
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/31/integration-novateur-hopital-francophone Project aims to help overcome nursing shortage by training and retaining more nurses and being innovative in how care is delivered By Judith Makana, Natalie Ladouceur, & Josette Roussel March 31, 2025 istockphoto.com/sturti Retaining nursing staff is not a simple endeavour. Today, more than ever, the nursing profession offers a wide range of professional opportunities, making the job market extremely competitive. Takeaway messages: The global nursing staff shortage is at its peak and requires multifactorial strategies to overcome ...

How resident and family councils improve the quality of life for people living in long-term care facilities (part 4)

posted 03-24-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/24/conseils-de-residents-et-familles-partie-4 Q&A series ends with a discussion on the benefits of councils By Farinaz Havaei & Sheila Novek March 24, 2025 istockphoto.com/Ridofranz Through addressing physical, emotional and social needs, councils can contribute to a more holistic approach to improving individual residents’ well-being, as well as the quality of life of the entire LTC resident community. Editor’s note: This article is an instalment of a four-part Q&A series that examines the role and function of resident and family councils in long-term care homes. ...

Why are you running to be a board member with ICN?

posted 03-20-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/20/partie-1-de-3-sylvain-brousseau-candidature-cii Part 1 of 3: Sylvain Brousseau answers our questions on his ICN bid By Sylvain Brousseau March 20, 2025 istockphoto.com/Sunan Wongsa-nga “As a new ICN board member, my top priority would be to address the global nursing shortage and ensure safe and healthy working environments for nurses,” Sylvain Brousseau says. Editor’s note: Former CNA president Sylvain Brousseau is a candidate for the North America and Caribbean seat on the board of directors of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) . We sent him a series of questions ...

How resident and family councils improve the quality of life for people living in long-term care facilities (part 3)

posted 03-17-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/17/conseils-de-residents-et-familles-partie-3 Q&A series examines how councils help those who are unable to participate in them By Sheila Novek March 17, 2025 istockphoto.com/PixelsEffect There are resident and family councils in many LTC homes across the country. In fact, these kinds of councils have a long history in Canada’s LTC sector. Editor’s note: This article is an instalment of a four-part Q&A series that examines the role and function of resident and family councils in long-term care homes. Part 1 was published on March 3. Part 2 was published on March 10. ...

How resident and family councils improve the quality of life for people living in long-term care facilities (part 2)

posted 03-10-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/10/conseils-de-residents-et-familles-partie-2 Q&A series considers what facilities did before councils, how to implement councils and more By Farinaz Havaei March 10, 2025 istockphoto.com/VladimirVladimirov Resident and family councils can be beneficial to nursing and care staff in LTC homes in several ways. First and foremost, effective councils can serve as a forum for open and honest communication between leadership, staff, residents and families. Editor’s note: This article is an instalment of a four-part Q&A series that examines the role and function of resident and ...

How resident and family councils improve the quality of life for people living in long-term care facilities (part 1)

posted 03-03-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/03/03/conseils-de-residents-et-familles-partie-1 Q&A series begins with examining the purpose of the councils By Farinaz Havaei & Sheila Novek March 3, 2025 istockphoto.com/DrazenZigic Resident and family councils are forums for residents and family members to discuss concerns and ideas, to communicate with management, and to advocate on behalf of the people living within each LTC home. Editor’s note: This article is an instalment of a four-part Q&A series that examines the role and function of resident and family councils in long-term care homes. Part 2 will be published ...

5 tips on supporting Muslim nurses during Ramadan

posted 02-27-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/02/27/appuyer-infirmier-musulman-pendant-ramadan Talk to your colleagues and find out how you can help By Zahra Upal February 27, 2025 istockphoto.com/andresr It is helpful to have open and direct conversations with your Muslim colleagues so they can tell you how to support them during Ramadan. Each person is unique and their needs may differ from others. The holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin tomorrow evening, Feb. 28, or Saturday, March 1, and millions of Muslims around the world will fast from dawn to sunset. Along with fasting, the month’s activities include an increase ...

Evaluating the risks for nurses of fentanyl exposure and the harms of perpetuating exposure misinformation

posted 02-24-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/02/24/risques-fentanyl-personnel-infirmier Viable solutions that promote the safety of everyone, including people who use drugs By Corey Ranger, Patty Wilson , & Serena Eagland February 24, 2025 istockphoto.com/OcusFocus Hospitals are not always safe environments for people who use drugs because of the stigmatizing treatment they receive. “Our once-safe hospitals are being destroyed by criminals and hard drugs, with the B.C. Nurses Union ringing the alarm bell, saying that patients and staff have been exposed to harmful, illegal drugs.” The above quote is from an announcement ...

It’s ‘disappointing’ to say nurses are a root cause for the nursing shortage. Instead, focus on underlying reasons.

posted 02-18-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/02/18/infirmier-penurie-raisons-sous-jacentes Second of two responses to October article: “How nurses may be impeding recruitment and retention” By Kate Shelest February 18, 2025 istockphoto.com/asiseeit Nurses are resilient, highly educated professionals. They possess varying levels of resilience and may find satisfaction in providing care in challenging situations. Kathy Arseneau’s October 1, 2024, Canadian Nurse article, “ How nurses may be impeding recruitment and retention ,” triggered deep reflection and requires a thoughtful response. The issue The potential for a nursing ...

Don’t blame nurses for the nursing shortage. There are ‘myriad factors’ contributing to the challenges we face.

posted 02-10-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/02/10/ne-sont-pas-blamer-penurie-personnel-infirmier First of two responses to October article: “How nurses may be impeding recruitment and retention” By Anne Marie Lauf February 10, 2025 istockphoto.com/LaylaBird Retention and recruitment challenges have been longstanding within Canadian nursing. The nursing shortage cannot be remedied without examining why it exists. Kathy Arseneau’s October 1, 2024, Canadian Nurse article, “ How nurses may be impeding recruitment and retention ,” was highly thought-provoking. I found, however, that it did not address the myriad factors contributing ...

Taking off my rainbow badge before work: a queer nurse’s call for allyship

posted 02-03-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/02/03/cri-ralliement-infirmier-genre-queer Actions you can take to support and affirm patients and colleagues who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ By Adam Brandt February 3, 2025 Jess Crawford Adam Brandt says that making health care, the nursing profession, and nursing school safer for those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ “begins with individual nurses reflecting on their practice and making small changes.” He is conducting research on the issue. Takeaway messages: The word “ally” is often used as a noun, but it is also a verb that describes an action. If you want to be an ally toward people ...

Exploring the growth in self-employed RNs and the challenges they face in starting own businesses

posted 01-27-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/01/27/exploration-de-la-croissance-des-ia-autonomes CASE RNs provides follow-up article on independent practice By Gigi van den Hoef , Kirk Nyquist & Susan Hagar January 27, 2025 istockphoto.com/pixelfit Nurses often start their business to address a gap in care they identified while working within traditional places of employment. Their self-employment is designed to provide better care because they are applying their nursing skills and knowledge to the gap they found. Editor’s note: On February 8, 2025, the Canadian Association of Self-Employed Regulated Nurses will hold its ...

On the other side of the curtain: why what we say when we think nobody can hear matters

posted 01-20-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/01/20/de-lautre-cote-du-rideau The words we speak and the unseen actions we take can heal the dying and inspire those who live By Kent Soltys January 20, 2025 Angeline Rachel Photography “In the moment when my life hung in the balance, I was blessed to witness something few in my profession get to experience and even fewer get to understand. In a moment when I was fighting for my life, I experienced the healing power of unseen interactions,” Kent Soltys says. I woke in the middle of the night with a strange feeling. One side of my body was numb, one side of my face was numb, and I was ...

How embracing mentorship can empower the next generation of health-care leaders

posted 01-13-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/01/13/mentorat-comme-moyen-sepanouir Six strategies for a successful mentor-mentee relationship By Linda-Ann Elobuike January 13, 2025 istockphoto.com/Ridofranz Mentorship is pivotal in shaping the next generation of health-care leaders, instilling them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to lead effectively. Mentorship became a significant concept for me when I embarked on a new career in nursing. The value of mentorship extends beyond mere professional growth; it is a catalyst for accelerating one’s journey toward becoming a competent, confident and effective nurse. Courtesy ...

The class of 1974: how my school reunion can ‘serve as a positive story we all need to hear’

posted 01-06-2025
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/01/06/cohort-de-1974 Gathering was an opportunity to express pride and love toward other nurses, with a reminder that they are not alone By Leslie Pitchford January 6, 2025 Courtesy of Leslie Pitchford Leslie Pitchford’s recent reunion had name tags, graduating pictures, and nursing caps for the graduates. She says the reunion was a wonderful example of respect for the amazing work nurses have done over the years and continue to do. I recently attended my 50th nursing reunion in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is remarkable to me how quickly 50 years have gone by in my life. Courtesy of ...