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A message from RNANT/NU and YRNA
Colleen Bytheway, RN, BN, MPA, PhD(c), Executive Director/Registrar, RNANT/NU
Jerome Marburg, LL.B. MBA, CEO, YRNA
Hello all and welcome to our fall 2023 issue of the News from the North. This issue marks our two-year anniversary of this joint communications newsletter. Both RNANT/NU and YRNA are so pleased to have collaborated over the last nine issues and we hope that each of you have enjoyed reading about and hearing from your nursing colleagues across the north. Our goal when we started this was simple, to strengthen the collective voices of northern nurses. Over the past eight issues we have shared information about public health, provided context on regulatory and association changes in our respective regions, provided linkages to the Canadian Nurses Association, shared insights into issues that matter to nurses, such as climate emergency and the current health and human resource crisis in the profession we are seeing across the country and much more.
While our regions are distinct, and we have our own environments and unique attributes, we have been struck by the commonality of focus we have found in the profession. Through the most challenging parts of the COVID-19 pandemic, from immunization roll-out to historic and unparalleled concerns over the future of nursing we have seen nurses unite, share stories, and join together not just in an effort to strengthen the profession but to improve the health of the populations we serve. No matter how difficult the challenge, nurses continue to maintain the public trust by providing safe, competent, ethical, and evidence-based care not only as care providers working with patients, residents,
families, and communities but also as leaders who shape the health system in myriad ways. Nurses do not merely lead other nurses or lead for nursing; nurses can and must lead everywhere health decisions are being made.
We encourage you to reach out, to share our stories and to provide us with feedback at any time. Finally, as we settle into the cool and darker days of fall and winter, we wish each of you health, safety, and wellness.
Join CNA before December 31, 2023 for a discount!
Step into your power to make change with the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)! CNA’s work is focused on advocating nationally to ensure the collective and strong voice of nursing is embedded in health care delivery across the country. As a member driven organization, CNA, relies on nurses across Canada to join. As a trusted leader in advocacy and policy development, CNA advances the nursing profession and improves health outcomes for all Canadians. Join a national community of colleagues, peers and leaders who are passionate about the nursing profession and making needed and lasting change. Join or renew your CNA membership before December 31, 2023 and receive $30.00 off. For general membership use the code CNAGen23, and premium membership, use CNAPrem23.
Nursing Retention Toolkit
In October 2023, the Office of Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Leigh Chapman, released its Nursing Retention Toolkit. This toolkit, created by nurses for nurses, focuses on eight core themes that impact the day to day working conditions of nurses. Each theme is then presented with corresponding work that employers and/or provincial health authorities can undertake to affect positive change to working conditions.
The eight identified themes are:
- Inspired leadership
- Flexible & balanced ways of working
- Organizational mental health and wellness supports
- Professional development & mentorship
- Reduced administrative burden
- Strong management & communication
- Clinical governance & infrastructure
- Safe staffing practices
The toolkit is meant to be shared and utilized as a guide to improve the working conditions of nurses across the country.
Celebrating NPs and Student Nurses
Each year in November the entire country takes the opportunity to celebrate NPs and Nursing Students from coast to coast to coast. This year NP week will be celebrated from November 12-18 and is an opportunity to recognize NPs as skilled clinicians, advocates, researchers, educators, policy makers, and leaders. Through their hard work and dedication, we have seen the NP role grow to meet needs across the health system and improve patient outcomes. Our colleagues in BC, the Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (NNPBC) have put together a web page in celebration of NPs. The week immediately following NP week is National Nursing Students’ Week (November 19-25). Nursing students represent the future of health care and it is your hard work and commitment to your studies that are foundational to your career and to the nursing care that Canadians will receive in the years to come. Check out NNPBC’s resource page and join us in celebrating both NPs and student nurses!
COVID-19 Subvariant EG.5
The COVID-19 Omicron variant was first designated a variant of concern in November 2021, and has since led to various subvariants, including BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.86, and XBB.1.5. While many are familiar with the BA lineages and the XBB lineage detected earlier this year, the EG.5 variant, also unofficially referred to as the ‘Eris’ variant, became more prevalent in Canada starting in July 2023, and surpassed XBB infections in August.[1] As of late September 2023, EG.5 including its sublineages (EG.5.1, EG.5.1.1, etc.) is the dominant COVID-19 strain through much of the world.[2] EG.5 was designated a ‘variant under monitoring’ by the Public Health Agency of Canada on June 22, and later deemed a ‘variant of interest’ on August 11.[3]
According to the World Health Organization, EG.5 has the fastest growth rate and is more transmissible than other COVID-19 variants in circulation.[4] However, further research is required to determine if there are any other effects caused by this variant, such as increased severity of illness or effects on post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID-19).
Preliminary data show that EG.5 may have increased immunity evasion over previous subvariants, however, this information is still under review.[5] Using layers of protection including wearing a well-fitting mask, ensuring adequate and up-to-date ventilation, staying home when feeling unwell, washing hands thoroughly and often, practising physical distancing measures, and keeping up to date with routine immunizations including COVID-19 booster doses remain important ways to protect against infection.
EG.5 is genetically descended from Omicron XBB strains, the variant targeted by COVID-19 vaccines during this fall 2023 immunization campaign.[6] The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines formulated to offer more robust protection against COVID-19 including XBB variants were approved by Health Canada on September 12 and September 28, respectively, [7] and are also expected to provide stronger protection against EG.5.[8] A third vaccine produced by manufacturer Novavax is also formulated to offer better protection against current variants, and is currently under review by Health Canada.
Nurses are leaders in public health and remain forefront in COVID-19 response, prevention, and immunization. As such, the public continue to rely on nurses for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and protection against all viruses this respiratory season. Especially as we head into respiratory illness season this fall, Canadians are strongly encouraged to continue to administer layers of protection and stay up to date with COVID-19 and routine immunizations. The Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments as well as provide pertinent updates regarding public health protection.
Reprinted with permission from Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC.
[4] BCCDC. Respiratory Surveillance: Genomic Surveillance. Sep 21, 2023.
[5] O Dyer. BMJ. Covid-19: Infections climb globally as EG.5 variant gains ground. Aug 2023.
[7] BC Gov News. Actions protect people, BC communities this respiratory illness season. Sep 2023.
[8] O Dyer. BMJ. Covid-19: Infections climb globally as EG.5 variant gains ground. Aug 2023.
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Highlights from the Yukon
Regulation and Legislation Changes
In the fall of 2023, the Yukon Legislature enacted a set of changes to the Registered Nurses Profession Act in anticipation of new regulations expected in late 2023 or early 2024. YRNA understands from consultation with government that the regulations will allow for an expansion of the Classes or registration/licensing for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) in the Yukon.
Some of the anticipated changes include allowing YRNA the ability to:
- Register/license directly, without having to rely on registration by endorsement from another Canadian nursing jurisdiction;
- Register graduate nurses directly. YRNA has secured agreement through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to be an NCLEX exam user allowing nurses to register in the Yukon and then take the NCLEX under YRNA authorization;
- Issue courtesy licenses for practitioners coming to the Yukon for special projects (replacing the "special" or "temporary" permit);
- Create an "interim" licence class through which graduate nurses will be able to register (as noted above), but which will also allow for possible registration of Internationally Educated Nurses who would then undergo competency assessment and national licensing examinations;
- Allow for the YRNA to enter into multi-jurisdictional licensing agreements with one or more Canadian jurisdictions;
- Allow YRNA to enter into agreements with health care authorities in other jurisdictions to register nurses providing virtual pre/post procedure care for Yukon residents who need to travel outside of the Yukon for treatments/procedures not available in the Yukon.
YRNA anticipates that the changes to the Regulations will also include updates to the prescribing schedule for NPs. We anticipate these changes will modernize the schedule both by recognizing the important role NPs play and by removing some of the restrictions currently in place that hinder the ability of NPs to provide the care fore which they are educated, competent and accountable.
Please stay tuned for more information on the anticipated regulations changes as we receive updates. Read the government press release.
Monthly Open House
Join us each month for 'Coffee with the CEO and Registrar'. Visit our offices, have some refreshments on us, share your stories, thoughts, questions, and ideas for us at YRNA or about nursing in the Yukon. The last open house date for the remainder of 2023 is December 14.
We are located at 4133 4th Ave, Suite 204 in Whitehorse. Drop us an email if you plan to attend so that we can be sure to have refreshments on hand!
For questions, please contact Registrar, Paul Banks at registrar@yrna.ca.
Spotlight: Elizabeth Berg - Continuing Nurse Education Fund Recipient
YRNA is pleased to profile nurses who have utilized our Continuing Nurse Education Fund. This issue, we're pleased to profile Elizabeth Berg.
About the Continuing Nurse Education Fund
Registrants can apply through YRNA for funding for continuing education through the Quality Assurance Education Fund provided by Yukon Health & Social services. These funds support eligible Yukon RNs/NPs who wish to pursue continuing education. Learn more and apply today.
Online Registration
YRNA is moving to an online registration platform! If you are a current or returning registrant, please click here for a step by step guide to retrieving your online profile.
2022/23 Annual Report
In case you missed it, YRNA's 2022/23 Annual Report is available for review here.
Duty to Report
Nurses are ranked consistently as the most trusted of health professionals in several opinion polls conducted across North America. Part of this trust is based on nurses' positional ethical and legal responsibilities as set out in legislation, practice standards and codes of ethics. Once such responsibility is the 'duty to report'. This means that nurses have an ethical and legal responsibility to report the practice of any other health professional if it is incompetent, impaired or unethical and poses a danger to the public.
In the Yukon, under the Registered Nurses Professions Act, employers who terminate or restrict the duties of either RNs or NPs must report to the registrar these changes if the RN or NP:
- Is unfit to practice due to physical or mental disorder;
- If the actions of the RN or NP constitute misconduct, incompetence or incapacity;
- If the RN or NP poses a danger to people in their care.
Additionally, the Act stipulates that if the above were not yet reported prior to the RN or NP resigning their employment, the employer is still obligated to notify the registrar of the offences.
All reports are sent to the complaints committee and no negative action will be undertaken against a complainant who makes a report in good faith. If you are considering a complaint, this Complaint Evaluation Toolkit is a helpful resource.
Please feel free to direct questions to either Jerome Marburg, CEO or Paul Banks, Registrar.
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Highlights from the NWT/Nunavut
New Act to Bring All Nurses in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories Together
It is our pleasure to report that the NT Nursing Profession Act 2023 (Bill 77) came into force on November 1, 2023.
Our new name is: College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANNN).
We welcome Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Your participation will make our organization stronger and better. Your membership and participation enables you to determine Scopes of Practice for your respective designations.
Other highlights include:
- Provisions for RN and RPN Authorized Prescribers. RN and RPN Authorized Prescribers will be restricted to specific conditions within a specific clinical area of expertise. We will share more on RN and RPN Authorized Prescribers as this area develops.
- Bylaw-making authority for virtual care nurses.
- Updated complaints and discipline process for legal clarity.
- New mandatory requirement for employers to report to CANNN if a nurse is terminated, or if the nurse chooses to resign instead of being terminated, due to unprofessional conduct.
- Updated gender-neutral language.
- And more!
Please note, Nunavut recently passed the Nursing Professions Act (Bill 23) which includes cross-jurisdictional regulation and is anticipated to come into force on December 1st, 2023.
Farewell from our Executive Director
It is with mixed feelings that I bid farewell to our fantastic team and board at RNANTNU/CANNN. I have decided to retire from nursing to complete my doctoral dissertation and am very excited to be heading home to Manitoba to be with my family once again. I have had a wonderful adventure in the north! It has been a joy to experience the beauty of this land and people and I have learned so much and have made some lifelong friends. I hope I will get back to visit here, someday.
It has been such a pleasure to serve as the ED of RNANTNU/CANN, this past year. We have an amazing team, and a dedicated board who give so much. You all know how much I will miss you! Thank you to the staff and directors for your dedication and valuable support to all the nurses in the Northwest Territories (NT) and Nunavut (NU).
Read Colleen's full farewell note.
Renewal- Deadline Extended!
Due to technical difficulties, renewal of registrations is extended until December 22nd, 2023. A late fee of $100 will apply on December 23rd – December 31st, 11:59 PM MT. Late renewals will not be guaranteed to be approved prior January 1st, 2024.
2023 AGM
On October 21st, we held our Annual General Meeting which started with a prayer by Elder Felix Lockhart and was presided over by Vivian-Lei Silverio-Chua, President. The Board of Directors reported the audited financial report, 2022 professional conduct cases found in the annual report. We also discussed the Nursing Profession Act (Bill 77) and elected new board members.
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Elder Felix Lockhart leading the opening
prayer during the AGM. |
Joining the Board of Directors are:
- Padma Suramala as the NWT Vice-President. Read bio.
- Rebecca McInnis as NT North Representative. Read bio.
- Mila Noordijk NU Vice – President
- Nicole Seaward NT South Representative
The meeting was concluded by President Silverio-Chua with an expression of gratitude for all members, their sacrifices and hard work.
We express our gratitude to outgoing Board Members, Lisa Burns, Melissa Holzer, LeRae Muise, Wanda Roberts and Kathlyn Tan for their invaluable contributions to RNANT/NU (now CANNN). Your time on the Board and your contributions have been indispensable in leading the organization, and we appreciate your hard work and dedication. We wish you the best in your next endeavours!
Please note, we are seeking for volunteers for the positions of Treasurer, NU East Representative and a partial term for Secretary. Please email us for more information or with questions.
Open House
Following our 2023 AGM, we were pleased to host an Open House for Canadian Nurses Association President, Dr. Sylvain Brousseau. Dr. Brousseau encouraged the attendees to share with him the struggles that nurses in the North are facing, in terms of staff retainment, mental health support, educational advancement among others. Dr. Brousseau echoed the importance of this dialogue to bring it to the national level to help the nurses in the North.
From left: Padma Suramala, NWT Vice-President, Nicole Seaward with her baby Orion, NWT South Rep., Denis Masson and his wife Michelle, NWT President-Elect, Colleen Bytheway, Executive Director, Yvette Deleff, Dr. Sylvain Brousseau, CNA President, Jacqueline Ramnath, NU West, Anna Tumchewics, RNANTNU staff, Vivian-Lei Silverio Chua, RNANTNU President, Mila Noordijk, NU Vice-President, and Shiela Humphrey, Elissa Sakariassen onscreen.
News and Information from our colleagues at Aurora College
Aurora College - LPN to BSN Bridging Course
Bridge-in course from January 29 to April 26, 2024.
Eligibility:
- Canadian Practical Nurse license
- Practical Nurse Program transcripts/Diploma
- One year of LPN experience
- Work-related reference
- Successful students will have the opportunity to enter Year 2 of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Yellowknife North Slave Campus for Fall 2024.
For additional details, please contact Natasha Bursey:
Check out the flyer and review the program quick facts. Check out the Aurora College website for more information.
Aurora College BSN Program Preceptor of the Year Award
This past spring, Faculty and students of the Aurora College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program celebrated Nursing Week by honoring registered nurses who support the program through preceptorship. Fourth year BSN students were invited to submit a short narrative nominating their preceptor for the second annual Preceptor of the Year award. Criteria for the award includes the following:
- Going over and above expectations in promoting student learning and achievement
- Serving as an outstanding role model for registered nursing practice
- Promoting the preceptor role among colleagues in practice
- Demonstrating excellence in teaching/learning as a preceptor
This year's recipient, Meladine Salaveria was nominated by 2023 BSN graduate Zita Korie who worked with Meladine in the Mental Health Unit at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Zita captured Meladine's contribution to nursing education in her nomination letter.
The BSN program faculty and students are pleased to celebrate Meladine, a registered nurse who demonstrates the support and guidance required for student success. Aurora College would also like to thank all registered nurses who took the time to preceptor students this past year for their continued support of nursing education and for promoting the role of preceptor among colleagues in practice.
Aurora College
In spring 2023, four Aurora College second year Bachelor in the Science of Nursing students and one faculty member participated in a 10-day nursing exchange in Holstebro, Denmark. Participants included Alexa Thompson, Caitlyn Wile, Holly Knutson, and Melissa Stockwell, who were selected by a panel of college faculty. Accompanied by instructor, Heather LaFoy, and a team of two faculty members and eight nursing students from College of the Rockies from Cranbrook, BC, the students embarked on learning how to communicate with multidisciplinary teams abroad. Through weekly Microsoft Team chats prior to the trip, the students collaborated with Danish counterparts from VIA University College. They created projects focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that include gender and equality and sustainable communities and cities.
Read the full story.
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Other news and info
- The Centre for Professional Development, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, provides a variety of innovative programs, courses, and institutes to advance your skills and enhance your knowledge. Course information can be found here.
- Online Learning Opportunities: Queens University Infection Prevention and Control and Strategies for Supporting Nursing Students.
- The Canadian Association for Mental Health (CAMH) is currently offering the Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Course. This free, self-directed course provides evidence-based information to support immigrants and refugees arriving to Canada. The course occurs over six weeks and will take approximately 20-25 hours to complete. Space is limited so please learn more about when and how to register by visiting their website.
- The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has a wealth of resources on their website including:
- The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) not only provides comprehensive liability protection for nurses, but also offers a wealth of resources, educational opportunities and materials that benefit nurses. Their website provides numerous educational opportunities on a variety of topics. Check out their website for more information.
- The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) is offering free, asynchronous, accredited eLearning modules on Cannabis and Older Adults. Click here for more information and to register.
Take Action! Canadian Nurses Association Advocacy Campaign
Canada is in the midst of a health care crisis. This crisis, driven largely by nursing shortages is impacting Canadians and our access to timely and quality care. The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has created the ‘Take Action!’ campaign to encourage nurses and members of the public to speak up about this crisis and ensure all levels of government understand the need to invest in the nursing workforce. Learn more about the campaign and how to participate by clicking here.
Connecting with us
We want to hear from you! Please reach out at any time if you have questions, concerns or if you’d like to see us feature a specific story in our next newsletter.
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