Comments for CACCN

Comment on A simple Touch… by Ruth Trinier

Ruth Trinier — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:38:08 +0000

This is really quite a moving testament to the power of nursing. I have shared it with my colleagues and would encourage others to do the same.

Comment on A simple Touch… by Cathy Whitelaw

Cathy Whitelaw — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:05:37 +0000

Wow. Thanks Kate for sharing that incredible video. I too was moved. Working in critical care requires a tremendous amount of skill, however showing compassion and empathy for your patient and their family is as equally important to do this job right. it’s amazing how a “simple touch” can mean so much.

Comment on A simple Touch… by Pam Hughes

Pam Hughes — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:03:38 +0000

Dear Kate
Wow..is what I begin with but end with a big thank you for sharing this.
Once again I am stopped dead in my tracks by a story , and pray that as a “seasoned” (not old) ICU nurse, I stop to hold a hand and listen to a whisper in the dark.

Comment on A Black and White Uniform Issue? by president_caccn

president_caccn — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:28:07 +0000

Judith…I could not agree with you more! We are all responsible and accountable for the care we provide and we cannot be anonymous as we provide it…so having a visible and readable name tag (not hung on a side pocket or turned backwards) is one way to do this and as you say… and costs little.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Kate Mahon, President

Comment on A Black and White Uniform Issue? by president_caccn

president_caccn — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:23:30 +0000

Hello Victoria,
I thank you for making your thoughts visible and finding your voice on this controversial subject that has arisen in Nova Scotia with the signing of the last collective agreement. Your points are very valid and you make two points in what I am reading…one is about the uniform issue and the other is about the distinct role that RN’s play in the care of patients and their families. Let me speak to both…
As you have so succintly said, the most important thing is that when we are working with the public that we introduce ourselves as “RN” so that the patient/family knows who is caring for them. Our actions willl speak far more for who we are, than any uniform (of any colour) we are wearing and that point is timeless. The work we do as RN’s is a separate and distinct responsibility from any other category of health care provider (including LPN’s) and nursing is indeed a profession with its own body of scientific knowledge which is why entry to practice is through a science based university program. Although RN’s and LPN’s both have the legal and legislated right to use the title “nurse” (at least in NS) it is in our preparation for entry to practice that the differences in the contributions both make to patient care that sets us apart. RN’s are the coordinators of care for all patients and when the RN delegates (assigns) care to the LPN she/he is doing this based on an assessment of the patient’s needs. The LPN’s have their own scope of practice and are responsible autonomously for the care they are assigned. The scope of the RN is broader and it is for that reason that colloborative models of care are being developed to meet the needs of patients. Botth RN’s and LPN’s play a vital role in the care of patients and families when they work in a collaborative model of care.

The issue about putting all nurses who belong to the NS Nurses Union in the SAME black and white uniforms in NS has certainly got nurses talking about what image we want to portray to the public and that is probably the best thing to come out of this decision. The public has picked up on the price tag to put nurses back in uniform ($500,000) and one can appreciate the concern in times of fiscal restraint. It is unfortunate that this has potentially created some bad publicity for nursing.
The Bargaining Unit Grievance Labour-Management (BUGLM) is a forum within the collective agreement in NS to bring issues of concern that you have to the table for your Union to discuss with Management so I cannot speak to that point further.

So I would encourage you to continue to communicate with your colleagues in nursing on solutions and with the NSNU to resolve this issue and….keep on talking!

Kate Mahon, President

Comment on A Black and White Uniform Issue? by Jowett, Judith

Jowett, Judith — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:35:15 +0000

Mandatory wearing of large clear nametags would help identify all staff to patients and each other, and be much more economical in these times of restraint!

Comment on A Black and White Uniform Issue? by Judith Jowett

Judith Jowett — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:31:48 +0000

I feel that mandatory dress codes are a step back in time. If the employer or union wanted to identify nurses, why not identify all staff through the mandatory useage of name tags that are large enough to identify the staff member and their role in the healthcare team. First name and title would suffice. It would be much more economical in these cost saving times, and informative to patients and staff.

Comment on A Black and White Uniform Issue? by Victoria Case

Victoria Case — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:34:27 +0000

Ms. Mahon, I appreciate your insight and of course years of experience on the subject of nurses. However, the role of the nurse has changed dramatically in the last 10-15 years making comparisons to those times rather irrelevant. We want to be acknowledge as not doing a “womans” job and not as the hand of the physician. We are baccalaureate prepared nurses who engage in continuous learning and professionals who deserve the right to some choice. Asking us to appear in standardized uniforms seems to be an unresearched method to solving a bigger issue, identity. I greet every patient’s family (my patients are babies) informing them of who I am, the nurse. I now say RN, since I want my designation to be known, not because I disrespect LPN’s but because, I am an RN and I did the work to get that title. I wear a pin that says RN, and I respond when someone says “nurse”. We have doctors, med students, SW, SW students I could go on, patient and families rarely know who these people are until they are introduced. No one is looking to uniform any of those professions. I believe that as a nurse, I have been bullied into conforming to something I am unhappy with and that will not improve patient care. I agreed to the Collective Agreement for the 50 or so other clauses, and under the assumption that there was still debate about the Uniform Policy, as well I was under the impression that nurses still had the option to submit uniform exemption through BUGLM, which is also now not the case, hence our union is violating their own Letter of Understanding.
The public is furious with nurses because they see this uniform expense as a waste of money, this I agree with wholeheartedly. Ms. Hazelton has not done well in improving the public image of nurses and with this recent decision public opinion of nurses has gotten worse. I am of the opinion that you have played both sides in this debate without making any real definitive statements, think about who nurses are today not who they were before. Uniform standardization is not the answer.

Comment on Be Good to Yourself and Each Other by Kathrine Roufs

Kathrine Roufs — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:17:41 +0000

I respect your work , regards for all the interesting blog posts.

Comment on Tis the Season! by Christine

Christine — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:24:16 +0000

What a beautiful thing for the bereavement committee at IWK to do for the grieving families. Sometimes just knowing someone is thinking about you is enough to get one through the day without falling apart. I also think writing the notes for the families was likely good for the nurses as well. I am always in awe at nurses who can face such critical situations and despite their own sorrow can dispense care, compassion and kindness to the family and friends of the loved one. Wishing you and your family peace and comfort this Christmas season ~~ may beautiful memories of your father surround all of you and keep the sorrow at bay. Take care,

Christine