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The nursing journey Providing care, endless opportunities, continual learning
Winnipeg Health Region They can be found everywhere: clinics, hospitals, schools, workplaces - even in the homes of our elderly citizens. Wherever there is a need for compassion and caring, chances are the reassuring face providing it will be that of a nurse. And that need will only continue to grow. "People don't often realize how much influence nurses have in their lives," says Jan Currie, Vice-President and Chief Nursing Officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. "They are in virtually every setting," she says. The role of the nurse within the health care system has always been a critical one. But the nature of that role has evolved over time as the scope of practice broadened and nurses took on more responsibility for the actual delivery of care. And it is that ever changing role that makes nursing such an exciting profession, says Currie. "The journey within a nursing career is vast, with endless opportunities for professional advancement and satisfaction. From the new nursing graduate, to the seasoned senior nurse, their roles and responsibilities may differ but ultimately they are passionate about delivering the best care," she says. Currie's career, spanning four decades, illustrates the point. Upon her graduation from nursing school, she worked as a bedside nurse. Soon after, she went on to hold a more senior position as a clinical manager and educator. Eventually, she assumed her current role as leader of nurses in the Winnipeg Health Region. "I see myself helping nurses help patients," she says of her role. "I feel like I am looking after all those patients through them." More than 7,000 nurses work in various areas within the Winnipeg Health Region's hospitals, health care facilities, public health clinics and home care services. Nurses make up almost one-third of the health region's workforce. The notion of the nurse as an indispensible player in the delivery of health care is captured nicely in the theme for this year's National Nursing Week: Nursing, You Can't Live Without It! The event, which takes place from May 11 to 17, is an opportunity to show appreciation for the role nursing plays in the health system and in our daily lives. Diverse Opportunities Brent Becker, an Emergency Department nurse at the Victoria General Hospital, is one of a growing number of people who are taking advantage of what nursing has to offer. "I love the flexibility and various opportunities. There aren't many careers that offer the same experience where the opportunities are potentially endless," he says. Becker entered the profession as a second career after a serious car accident nearly 10 years ago gave him an opportunity to step back and re evaluate his career aspirations. He enrolled in a Health Care Aide program and then, less than two years later, he went back to university to become a Registered Nurse (RN). "Every day I learn something new. I can't say I would have that in another field," the 33-year-old says. While Becker is a relatively new nurse with three-and-a-half years experience, he knows that boundless opportunities lie ahead for him, including going back for specialized training and further education. After health regions were created in the province 10 years ago, this created more flexibility within the profession. Opportunities increased for nurses to move to different sectors and facilities within their regions, enabling them to expand their knowledge and scope of practice, while retaining their benefits and seniority, Currie says. "You can have a huge variety of patients and still stay very close to the bedside. Because you have the opportunity to move from place to place nurses are moving much more. That change is good for them." Art of Nursing While the "science" of nursing may be evolving with advancements in technology, giving care ultimately remains the "art" of nursing. "I'm a caregiver at heart. It's ingrained in me. It's who I am," says Michelle Todoruk- Orchard, a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in the Winnipeg Health Region's Home Care program. "Community nurses need to be generalists. They are caring for people of all ages. Home Care encourages patients to participate in their care. They are an active part of the health care team." In her role as a CNS, Todoruk-Orchard, an energetic and seasoned advanced practice nurse, continues to work directly with clients. She also provides consultation and advice to Home Care nurses, from developing programs to deliver better care, educating staff about new techniques and empowering nurses to provide the best clinical outcomes for their clients. Like many of her colleagues Todoruk-Orchard's career path has seen its share of twists and turns. Starting out more than 20 years ago as a home care nurse with the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON), she later became a unit manager, then returned to school to pursue a Masters of Nursing from the University of Manitoba, became a certified diabetes educator and now is considered an expert in wound care. What has kept her motivated is inspiring others and knowing that she has made an impact on the lives of her patients and clients. "I love seeing nurses work to their full potential. I challenge nurses to be their best," Todoruk-Orchard says. Throughout their diverse careers, nurses continue to advance and develop their clinical knowledge. More recently, with the immense advancements in technology, new nurses are entering the workforce with skills that only a few decades ago were not part of their education. There are about 600 nursing students graduating from Manitoba universities and colleges each year. Many of the new graduates find employment in the Winnipeg Health Region. Currie says although technology is expanding deeper throughout the health-care system, for example, by means of developing an electronic patient record, there is an everpresent need to hone in on the "art" of nursing. But even for veteran nurses like Currie and Todoruk-Orchard, who have seen thousands of patients over the course of their practice, the old adage remains: "once a nurse, always a nurse." "You never quit. It's part of you," says Currie. Think You Know Nursing? Nurses affect and influence our daily everyday in many ways. Nurses:
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