Blogs

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

By CN Content posted 5 days ago
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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 ...
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5 tips on supporting Muslim nurses during Ramadan

By CN Content posted 10 days ago
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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 ...
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Evaluating the risks for nurses of fentanyl exposure and the harms of perpetuating exposure misinformation

By CN Content posted 13 days ago
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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 ...
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It’s ‘disappointing’ to say nurses are a root cause for the nursing shortage. Instead, focus on underlying reasons.

By CN Content posted 19 days ago
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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 ...
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Don’t blame nurses for the nursing shortage. There are ‘myriad factors’ contributing to the challenges we face.

By CN Content posted 27 days ago
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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 ...
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Taking off my rainbow badge before work: a queer nurse’s call for allyship

By CN Content posted 02-03-2025
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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 ...
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Exploring the growth in self-employed RNs and the challenges they face in starting own businesses

By CN Content posted 01-27-2025
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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 ...
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On the other side of the curtain: why what we say when we think nobody can hear matters

By CN Content posted 01-20-2025
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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 ...
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How embracing mentorship can empower the next generation of health-care leaders

By CN Content posted 01-13-2025
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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 ...
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The class of 1974: how my school reunion can ‘serve as a positive story we all need to hear’

By CN Content posted 01-06-2025
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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 ...
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‘Hurt people can hurt people’: why it’s important to adopt a trauma-informed approach to nurses’ well-being

By CN Content posted 12-16-2024
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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. ...
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Positive disruption: sharing reflections, championing change, and inspiring action

By CN Content posted 12-09-2024
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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 ...
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Time of death, 12:05: caring for a patient and their family before and after declaration of neurological death

By CN Content posted 12-02-2024
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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 ...
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The ADII method: assisting students in aligning data with the SBAR tool

By CN Content posted 11-25-2024
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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 ...
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It’s time to challenge the practice of using a cold bubble humidifier during oxygen delivery

By CN Content posted 11-18-2024
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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 ...
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Take one minute of pause for a better shift: reduce stress with mindfulness, mantras and breathing exercises

By CN Content posted 11-12-2024
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https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/11/12/reduire-le-stress-grace-pleine-conscience Self-care strategies that are fast and easy that you can do anywhere By Danielle Hoult November 12, 2024 istockphoto.com/pixdeluxe Using practices such as mindfulness, mantras and breath work to pause during your shift allows you to claim a moment to care for yourself when you’re so busy caring for everyone else. Takeaway messages: Use one minute of time to pause and practise self-care while at work. Mantras, mindfulness and breathing exercises are simple tools you can use on your shift. The exercises can be helpful to reduce stress ...
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The essence of boundaries: insights on how introspection can influence the ability to provide empathetic care

By CN Content posted 11-04-2024
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https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/11/04/introspection-fournir-soins-empathiques A deep and genuine understanding of ourselves can be a foundation for effective nursing practice By Olivia Noone November 4, 2024 istockphoto.com/DrazenZigic The ability to engage in introspection contributes to what is generally viewed as one of the ideal qualities of nurses — the unique harmony between professionalism and humanitarianism. In nursing, it is essential to remember that we are still subject to the same continuum of human emotion, vulnerability and suffering as our patients. For this reason, our awareness of and connection to ...
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‘We are home where we belong’: Home for Life Assessment Tool scale-up with Indigenous Elders

By CN Content posted 10-28-2024
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https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/10/28/outil-devaluation-home-for-life New Brunswick initiative aimed at practising reconciliation receives approval for scale-up By Jennifer L. Dobbelsteyn October 28, 2024 istockphoto.com/mikyso The Home for Life Assessment Tool consists of five key components, each with five assessment items. The components include food insecurity, loneliness, safety/security, housing conditions, and the need for supportive long-term care services in the community. Takeaway messages The number of Indigenous Elders in Canada is increasing significantly and will continue to do so in the next decade. ...
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Beyond the hype: it’s time for nursing to take a close look at artificial intelligence

By CN Content posted 10-21-2024
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https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/10/21/au-dela-du-battage-lintelligence-artificielle 8 recommendations for how nurses can maximize their use of AI By Gillian Strudwick & Tracie Risling October 21, 2024 istockphoto.com/thomasandreas It is important for nurses to take the lead in thinking through how AI and an increasing number of generative AI applications are implemented in various contexts. There is a lot of excitement about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI, in health care. Applications such as natural language processing, medical image generation, drug discovery, and behavioural ...
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4 essential strategies for novice nurses navigating the post-pandemic workplace

By CN Content posted 10-15-2024
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https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2024/10/15/quatre-strategies-essentielles-pour-les-infirmiere How you can thrive and grow despite uncertainty and challenges By Carlo Mikhail L. Magno October 15, 2024 istockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages To a novice nurse, it may seem daunting to take that first step into building a career. Although there is a lot of uncertainty, there are also plenty of opportunities. In my first decade of nursing practice, I had the privilege of working in a wide range of practice settings, including ambulatory family practice, long-term care and management. Today, I work in acute and palliative care ...
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