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

posted yesterday
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 8 days ago
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 12 days ago
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 15 days ago
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 22 days ago
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 29 days ago
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 ...

‘Hurt people can hurt people’: why it’s important to adopt a trauma-informed approach to nurses’ well-being

posted 12-16-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/12/16/les-personnes-blessees-en-blessent-dautres A lack of system-level approaches poses grave repercussions for patients By Mar’yana Fisher December 16, 2024 istockphoto.com/FatCamera Trauma-informed approaches to care have populated scientific literature since the mid-1990s. Since then, many organizations, including those in the health-care sector, have introduced frameworks and policies to guide more responsive, trauma-informed practices for patient care — at least on paper. Recently, I attended a transformational interdisciplinary conference in Vancouver, titled Justice As Trauma. ...

Positive disruption: sharing reflections, championing change, and inspiring action

posted 12-09-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/12/06/perturbation-positive Two community health nurses share their practical advice on how to combat anti-Indigenous racism By Lara Frederick & Randi Leanne Parsons December 9, 2024 istockphoto.com/DisobeyArtPh If you are in the early stages of your journey into cultural humility, that’s okay — jump in now! There’s no better time than now to make this important commitment to lifelong learning. What is “positive disruption,” and why does it matter? “Nurses have an obligation to respect and value each person’s individual culture and consider how culture may impact an individual’s ...

Time of death, 12:05: caring for a patient and their family before and after declaration of neurological death

posted 12-02-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/12/02/declaration-du-deces-neurologique A reminder of the immense importance of empathy, compassion and dignity By Marianne M. Rowland December 2, 2024 istockphoto.com/PeopleImages The process a patient undergoes for declaration of death is rigorous and can feel onerous. Caring for a patient who is undergoing declaration of death by neurological criteria and potential consideration for organ donation is one of the most rewarding and challenging situations for an ICU nurse to experience. It requires the nurse to balance patient-/family-centred care with diligent monitoring of the patient’s ...

The ADII method: assisting students in aligning data with the SBAR tool

posted 11-25-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/11/25/methode-adii Goal is to assist nurses in data synthesis, analysis, and subsequent interprofessional communication By Jason Cohen November 25, 2024 istockphoto.com/PeopleImages ADII stands for abnormal data (AD), issues (I), and interventions (I). The ADII method, a distillation of the nursing process, was created to assist students and nurses in quickly analyzing abnormal client data and, subsequently, in formulating concise SBAR statements for use when collaborating with physicians or prescribers. Takeaway messages Assessment data synthesis, analysis, and subsequent interprofessional ...

It’s time to challenge the practice of using a cold bubble humidifier during oxygen delivery

posted 11-18-2024
https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/11/18/humidificateur-bulles-froides-doxygene Evidence shows bubbling oxygen through water does not meet physiological demands or alleviate symptoms of dryness — and may increase infection risk By Woochan Park November 18, 2024 istockphoto.com/Toa55 Although traditional practices such as cold-water humidification have been widely used, evidence suggests that they are insufficient and potentially harmful Using a cold-water humidifier to bubble oxygen has long been a routine practice in nursing. In Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing , sixth edition (2019, p. 979), Astle, Duggleby, and Potter ...