Nurse helping up senior

Nursing Week, May 8-14, 2017

Each year Nursing Week serves as an opportunity to celebrate the contribution nurses make to patient care, and to highlight the many ways in which our profession is evolving. The theme chosen by the Canadian Nursing Association this year is #YESThisIsNursing: Unexpected Places & Real Impact. It's a timely theme, considering all the changes taking place within our region. And it speaks to the opportunity we have, as nurses, to influence and shape those changes.

As you know, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the Minister of Health recently announced a plan to heal our health system. In spite of nurses and others in our health system working hard to provide the best care, the system itself is not structured in a way that best meets the health needs of the population we serve, both in the hospital and in the community.  The development of this plan was no small feat, involving months of research and interviews done by outside clinical experts such as Dr. David Peachey. It also included a great deal of planning and discussion involving our own clinical staff.  Most importantly, the plan provides a framework for how we can provide better care for our patients.

Change of this size and scope is a significant undertaking. There is a role for all of us - in every part of the system and every level - in optimizing the opportunities it presents. This will be disruptive and that does create anxiety and confusion. It will impact the work we do and, for some, could mean a change in where work is performed or how patient care is delivered. I know those things aren't easy and will be frustrating at times. I sincerely believe, however, that these changes are necessary and important to improving access to care for patients, the quality of patient care and ensuring the sustainability of our system.

While we celebrate our profession this week, I invite you to consider the impact of your own practice and influence as a nurse on both access to care and quality of care. In your role, you have the opportunity to create positive change. We have a strong collective voice and together we can work to shape the system and positively impact patient care.

That impact - real impact, means that as nurses we must step up, grasp the opportunity to provide leadership and advocate for meaningful change. You know this because you live it every day: our "In the Spotlight" Nurse profiles - featuring five phenomenal nurses in the region - reflect the both the passion and compassion each of you bring to your work.

This Nursing Week, I hope you take time to reflect on the difference you make, the vital role you play and its increasing importance to the future of health care. And, when you see those opportunities to step up to the challenge and lead change, I hope you seize it, both individually and as teams. Leadership and advocacy mean engaging and collaborating with other health care providers, patients and their families.

Even with resources to help navigate change, however, fatigue is possible. Change upon change upon change can take its toll on even the strongest of us. If you've had moments like this, please consider talking to someone about what you're experiencing. You may even want to consider extra support from the EAP program. I encourage you to reach out if you need to - because we need you.

It is also important to cultivate the capacity to be resilient. Resilience is not only the ability to withstand challenge or adversity, but to use those moments of stress or challenge to learn and grow. Forming strong support systems and engaging in meaningful activities are ways we can build our resilience.

As we celebrate Nursing Week, I would like to personally thank you for your expertise, commitment and creativity in meeting our community's health care needs. And to our health-care colleagues, thank you for the opportunity to collaborate with you. Together, we can contribute our professional perspectives and provide the best care possible to those we serve.

Sincerely,

Lori Lamont
Vice President, Interprofessional Practice and Chief Nursing Officer