They have been called the “heartbeat of the health care system” and one of the “great blessings of humanity.” They are nurses, and this is National Nursing Week in Canada.
The week always coincides with International Nurses Day and Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Born on May 12, 1820, Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing.
Health Sciences North sent out a press release earlier this week saying it would like to thank its team of more than 1,600 nurses who care for patients every day.
The nursing team at HSN includes Registered Nurses, Nurse Technicians, Registered Practical Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Clinical Leaders, Nurse Clinicians, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Occupational Health Nurses, Infection Control Nurses, Enterostomal Therapists, and nurses working in management and administration.
“Without nurses, there is no health care system, period," said Dave McNeil, a registered nurse and HSN's vice-president of patient services and chief nursing executive.
"Not only do nurses provide front-line care, they provide comfort and assurance to patients and their families. Our entire health system depends on them, and our team of nurses at HSN do a phenomenal job of looking after our patients."
In addition to providing front-line care, nurses at HSN take part in research, develop new models of care, lead community wellness initiatives, serve as teachers and mentors to medical learners, and help family members and patients navigate the health care system.
“I love being a nurse, because it’s a varied career with a lot of opportunity,” said Jocelyne Benoit, a critical care nurse in HSN’s Cardiac Medical Unit. “I love being able to advocate for my patients, ease their pain and help them in their time of need, and I like to think we make a difference to our patients.”
It was the personal care and compassion of nurses that made a huge difference during a difficult time for Lianne Dupras, one of the Patient Advisors at HSN.
"For me, nurses were the lighthouses and anchor points in my storm,” said Lianne Dupras.
“I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive leukemia almost 17 years ago, and though the world was swirling around us, my nurses were calm, reassuring, informed and my personal cheerleaders.
"I remember the night before I was to start my chemo treatments; I was terrified and could not still myself. It was at this point that one my nurses took time out of her very busy night to sit beside me on my hospital bed, hold my hand, and comfort and encourage me. Such a small moment, with such a big impact. Thank you."
To honour its nurses, HSN collected some of their stories. Visit HSN’s Facebook page to get a glimpse into the lives of HSN’s dedicated nursing staff.
