Celebrating Nursing Week more important than ever this year 

 

National
Nursing Week is taking place from May 11 to 17 this year and its theme
is Nurses: A voice to lead – nursing the world to health. The World
Health Organization has designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and
Midwife in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s
birth. She is credited as the founder of modern nursing and each year
Nursing Week in Canada is celebrated from the Monday to Sunday of her
birthday, May 12.

Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, local nurses
are embodying the spirit of Nightingale with their bravery, diligence,
courage and hard work.

 

Carolyn Plummer, president and chief executive
officer of Haliburton Highlands Health Services, said that it’s hard to
find the words to express how proud she is of what the nurses she works
with have accomplished and how grateful she is for all they are doing
amid the stress, anxiety and uncertainty of the current pandemic
situation.
“Their resilience during this time has been inspiring.
Our nurses, along with all members of our team, have had to find new
ways to support one another as we navigate this unprecedented journey,”
said Plummer. “They have had to work in new spaces that are not the most
ideal, and have found innovative ways to make it work; they have tapped
into their incredible resourcefulness and have stepped up to the
challenge in so many ways, dealing with rapid changes as new information
arrives by the day – or even by the hour in some cases – and through it
all they have continued to provide safe, high quality, compassionate
care to our patients and residents.”

 

Plummer said nurses play a
variety of roles that aren’t always obvious, such as developing and
implementing safety programs and supporting vulnerable clients in the
community. Plummer also said there are nurses in leadership roles who
have dedicated countless hours over the past few months to develop and
implement plans to help HHHS manage during the pandemic.

 

“Nurses play
a vital role in supporting those in their care. This has become
particularly critical during the pandemic, as patients and residents
have not been able to have their friends and loved ones visit them in
person,” said Plummer. “Nurses, along with other direct care providers,
care for people when they are at their most vulnerable, bearing witness
to suffering and loss as well as moments of joy. Nurses work together
with other staff members as part of a team… this is why, during
Nursing Week, we celebrate nurses as well as all members of our team –
as we are all in this together, caring for our community.”

 

Plummer
said she would like to thank the community for all of the support they
have already shown to local nurses, HHHS staff, and essential service
workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The generosity of this
community has always been incredible and we are grateful for the ongoing
support that we have received,” said Plummer. “For those looking to
send a message of support to our excellent team of nurses, health care
professionals, and important support and administrative staff, please
visit haliburtoncares.ca and look for the ‘Show Front-Line Workers You Care’ form.”

 

Fiona
Kelly, chief nursing officer with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge
District Health Unit, said she wants to salute the unit’s nursing staff –
and those across our health-care system – for their tireless efforts to
prevent illness, protect against disease and promote healthy living.
 “Celebrating
the work of nurses is extra appropriate this year too given the current
COVID-19 situation,” said Kelly. “Nurses are at the forefront of
responding to the pandemic in many different health care settings and
facilities.”

 

Kelly said that during this pandemic, almost all of
HKPR’s 42 health unit nurses are actively doing case and contact
follow-up with people who are self-isolating after testing positive for
COVID-19. Over the phone, they discuss their symptoms, how to
self-isolate for 14 days, and what extra supports they need to follow
the rules, including arranging to have someone get groceries for them
while they’re in self-isolation.
Kelly said that those nurses not
involved in COVID-19 response are busy maintaining other essential
health unit services such as sexual health initiatives, harm reduction
programs and administering vaccines. Kelly said these efforts are even
more important and complex during COVID-19.
“Health unit nurses also
follow up with others who were in close contact with the person who has
COVID-19,’’ said Kelly. “By tracing these contacts, nurses can discuss
with them any exposure or symptoms they may have, and which precautions
they need to take to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

 

Kelly said the
work of health unit nurses in response to COVID-19 is not always known
to the public. “Our nurses are certainly not as visible as those working
in hospitals or other health care settings, but I would argue that the
work they do is vital in reducing the spread of the virus in our
communities,” said Kelly. “That’s why I refer to health unit nurses as
the ‘hidden heroes’ of COVID-19.”
Kelly said the battle against
COVID-19 is not over and will continue for quite some time – but also
said we will succeed in large part due to the role nurses are playing in
responding to this pandemic.

 

Kim Robinson, the executive director of
the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team, said that without their
nurses they would be lost. “They are like the rudder steering the ship,”
said Robinson. “Each one brings something very unique to the team. I
would praise each and every one of them for their compassion, support,
leadership and skills.”
Robinson said that the COVID-19 pandemic has
had a significant impact on the family health team’s work. Their nurses
have been redeployed to work in the assessment centre to screen patients
and provide virtual and telephone visits. She said it is a very
challenging environment – but that the nurses have adapted and accepted
the change with ease and professionalism.
 “I think anyone who has
attended our clinic knows the value that the clinical team brings. They
show compassion while being efficient. They truly care about the
patients and their well being,” said Robinson. “This has not changed
throughout the pandemic. It has only made it clear that we have a
fabulous team of nurses who are willing to support each other, the
physicians, continue to provide care, and do whatever needs to be done.”

 

support for health-care workers has become a welcome trend during the
pandemic. Robinson said that the family health team’s nurses would not
want to be singled out for praise. However, if there is a nurse that is
special to you, looked after you when you were unwell, or went out of
their way to call and check in on you, she said to let them know you
appreciate their time and thoughtfulness.
Throughout her career,
Robinson said she has been fortunate to work with many wonderful nurses.
When her dad was receiving palliative care in hospital, she said she
doesn’t know where she would have been without the support of the nurses
there – and her sister, who is a registered nurse.
“They put us,
and dad, at ease and supported dad’s wishes. They offered hugs, food,
coffee, tea, and an ear. I will never forget them,” said Robinson. “My
hat’s off to all the incredible nurses that I have the daily privilege
of working with, those that I have worked with in the past, my sister
and nieces, who have all taken on this most challenging, but rewarding
vocation.”