Calling All Nurses

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The BC Nurses' Union protects and advances the health, safety, social and economic well-being of their members, the profession, and communities (BCNU, 2024). Listen as BCNU President, Adriane Gear discusses the recently negotiated minimum nurse-patient ratios, led by BC, as well as how she sees nursing as "ready for takeoff", with all the current synergies of collaboration. 

Adriane Gear was elected president of BCNU in 2023. As union president, Gear is committed to ensuring that health employers treat BC’s nurses with respect and provide patients with the care they deserve.

Adriane has been an RN since 1993. She has worked in long-term care at Saanich Peninsula and general surgery at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General (VGH) hospitals. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked in case contact management and surveillance for Island Health.

Adriane first became active in BCNU in 2004, when she felt her employer had not taken her health and safety seriously after she received a needle stick injury while pregnant with her second child. She became a steward at VGH and was elected as the South Islands region occupational health and safety (OHS) representative in 2010. She later served as one of the region’s council members.

In 2015 members elected Adriane as the union’s executive councillor for OHS and mental health. One of her proudest moments occurred in 2019 when, after an extended BCNU campaign, the province amended the Workers’ Compensation Act to make it easier for nurses diagnosed with a mental injury to access WorkSafeBC compensation.

Adriane served as acting vice president from 2018 to 2019 and in 2022 was elected vice president following a special election. In that role, she served as BCNU’s provincial lobby coordinator, where she led campaigns to raise awareness of the province’s critical nursing shortage and pressure all levels of government to address nurses’ issues. More recently, she chaired the union’s Human Rights and Equity Committee and fostered BCNU’s renewed a relationship with other provincial nurses’ union and membership in the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions.

Adriane is committed to championing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the union and the health-care system. She is dedicated to upholding the Nurses’ Bargaining Association provincial collective agreement and ensuring that the province implements nurse-patient ratios, which will improve the staffing and practice conditions needed to keep nurses in the profession and improve patient care. She also wants to encourage more nurses to get involved with the union by continuing to share the importance of nurses’ collective power.

Adriane is a mother to two young adults, both attending post-secondary school. She lives with her husband and boxer Phoebe.  Adriane is grateful for the opportunity to live on the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people which includes W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) and SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation.

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

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After approximately a decade, the Chief Nursing Officer [CNO] position in Canada is FINALLY reinstated and we are thrilled with both the reinstatement and appointment of Dr. Leigh Chapman, Canada's Chief Nursing Officer. Listen as Leigh talks about her federal position, engaging with nurses from all provinces and territories, her current project hot of the presses, The Nursing Retention Toolkit: Improving the Working Lives of Nurses in Canada. Dr. Leigh Chapman’s leadership for nursing across Canada, her commitment to the profession, unwavering belief in and support for nurses, and absolute hope and enthusiasm for the future is what nursing needs right now. Have a listen to be inspired!

Dr. Leigh Chapman is committed to advancing the nursing profession in Canada to ensure equitable access to quality care. As CNO for Canada, she provides strategic advice to Health Canada, plays a convening role on key nursing issues, and represents the Federal Government at public forums. 

Leigh is a registered nurse [RN] who received her PhD from the University of Toronto's Lawrence S. Bloomberg's Faculty of Nursing. Over the past 20 years, she has gained a deep understanding of nursing by working in both frontline and clinical leadership capacities. In addition to her role as CNO for Canada, Leigh continues to work at a community-based consumption and treatment site in Toronto, where she provides harm reduction services and frontline care. 

The Nursing Retention Toolkit -
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/health-human-resources/nursing-retention-toolkit-improving-working-lives-nurses.html

Notes for the season acronyms:

Allied Health Professions – other health care providers such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, and so on.
ARNBC - Association of Registered Nurses of BC
BCCNM - BC College of Nurses & Midwives
BCNU – BC Nurses Union
CNA - Canadian Nurses Association 
HHR – Health Human Resource
IEN - Internationally Educated Nurses
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse 
NNPBC – Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (formerly ARNBC)
NBA – Nurses’ Bargaining Association
NPS – Nursing Policy Secretariat within the BC Ministry of Health
RNABC - Registered Nurses Association of BC
RPN – Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

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The Nursing Policy Secretariat [NPS] for the BC Ministry of Health is the branch that helps support provincial nursing initiatives, guides policy, and provides a nursing voice to government. Listen as Zak discusses his new role within the BC Ministry of Health, his aspirations for nursing in BC, some of the current priorities of the NPS team, and how these priorities advance nursing practice.  

Zak Matieschyn is the provincial Chief Nurse and Executive Director, Nursing Policy Secretariat for the BC Ministry of Health, and a longstanding leader within his profession. He is passionate about advancing nursing practice, policy, and education to optimally support a healthcare system that works for both providers and people in British Columbia, including the province's diverse Indigenous Peoples and other priority populations. 

For the past 24 years, Zak has been a proud member of the nursing profession, practicing nursing in a variety of settings including emergency, intensive care, street nursing, vascular access, and outpost nursing, and as a nurse practitioner providing primary care services with a focus on marginalized populations. He continues to maintain a part-time addiction practice in Nelson, BC, providing harm reduction and comprehensive point of care primary care services. 

The Nursing Policy Secretariat NPS News: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/heath-care-partners/health-newsletter/nps-newsletter-dec-2022.pdf 

Notes for the season acronyms:

Allied Health Professions – other health care providers such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, and so on.
ARNBC - Association of Registered Nurses of BC
BCCNM - BC College of Nurses & Midwives
BCNU – BC Nurses Union
CNA - Canadian Nurses Association 
HHR – Health Human Resource
IEN - Internationally Educated Nurses
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse 
NNPBC – Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (formerly ARNBC)
NBA – Nurses’ Bargaining Association
NPS – Nursing Policy Secretariat within the BC Ministry of Health
RNABC - Registered Nurses Association of BC
RPN – Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

Comments and feedback can be sent to our email: [email protected]

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Professional regulatory authorities are government agencies or public organizations that have authority delegated by law from government. They provide oversight and certification to specified regulated occupations in B.C. (Government of BC, 2024). Professional regulation of the nursing profession has undergone significant change over the last decade with the Health Professions Act [HPA], primarily with professional associations and amalgamation of all nursing and midwifery colleges in BC.

 Listen as Patrick describes the evidence needed for both decision-making and evaluation with regulatory review, reform, and modernization. As professional regulatory competence, conduct, and discipline of health providers shifts to greater transparency and governmental oversight, is the public better protected? 

Patrick Chiu is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. He has held several policy and professional practice positions in professional associations, regulatory bodies, and government. He holds a Bachelor of Science from McMaster University, a Master of Public Health from Simon Fraser University, a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Alberta (2022), and a Certified Global Nurse Consultant (CGNC) designation through the International Council of Nurses & CGFNS. Patrick holds several leadership roles at the national and global levels and currently serves as a Liaison to the United Nations (Economic and Social Council) for Sigma Nursing, Chair of CNA's Professional Associations and Membership Advisory Council, and is a member of the editorial advisory board for the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership and Canadian Nurse Journal.

Health Regulation in BC:  https://bchealthregulators.ca/health-regulation-in-bc/

 Professional Regulatory Authorities:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/regulatory-authorities

 British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives: https://www.bccnm.ca/Pages/Default.aspx

Notes for the season acronyms:

Allied Health Professions – other health care providers such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, and so on.
ARNBC - Association of Registered Nurses of BC
BCCNM - BC College of Nurses & Midwives
BCNU – BC Nurses Union
CNA - Canadian Nurses Association 
HHR – Health Human Resource
IEN - Internationally Educated Nurses
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse 
NNPBC – Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (formerly ARNBC)
NBA – Nurses’ Bargaining Association
NPS – Nursing Policy Secretariat within the BC Ministry of Health
RNABC - Registered Nurses Association of BC
RPN – Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

Comments and feedback can be sent to our email: [email protected]

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The Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia [NNPBC] is the professional association that represents the voice of all four nursing designations in BC – RNs, LPNs, RPNs and NPs. By bringing all nursing designations under one roof, our association is a first of its kind in Canada, and presents a stronger, united nursing voice to influence health and social policy and advance the nursing profession. 
(NNPBC, 2024).  Listen as Angela offers an overview of BC's nursing professional association, what their current focus entails, and how policy can be the game changer for nursing. Also, hear about Angela's experience with the Canadian Nurses Association and the International Council of Nurses. 

Angela Wignall is a Registered Nurse serving as the Director, Professional Practice & Health Policy with the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia (NNPBC), BC’s unified professional nursing association. Angela is a policy nurse whose practice centres nursing at the intersection of policy and governance. Angela holds a BA from York University, a BSN from the University of Victoria, a Masters in Policy & Practice, and is currently completing her PhD with a research focus on nation state level Chief Nursing Officer leading health policy coalitions. Angela is a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and has recently supported the work of Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer as a member of the CNO Advisory Committee on Nursing Retention. In addition, she supports the International Council of Nurses as chair of the PAHO region Global Nursing Leadership Institute Alumni Network and co-chair of the international GNLI Steering Group. Angela advises and speaks around the world on nurse-led innovation, clinical governance, policy science, nursing leadership in policy contexts, and health-care transformation. She lives with her partner and two sons on the beautiful homelands of the Lekwungen speaking peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, in what is colonially known as Victoria, BC.

The Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia-
https://www.nnpbc.com 

Notes for the season acronyms:

Allied Health Professions – other health care providers such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, and so on.
ARNBC - Association of Registered Nurses of BC
BCCNM - BC College of Nurses & Midwives
BCNU – BC Nurses Union
CNA - Canadian Nurses Association 
HHR – Health Human Resource
IEN - Internationally Educated Nurses
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse 
NNPBC – Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (formerly ARNBC)
NBA – Nurses’ Bargaining Association
NPS – Nursing Policy Secretariat within the BC Ministry of Health
RNABC - Registered Nurses Association of BC
RPN – Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

Comments and feedback can be sent to our email: [email protected]

Send a text

We are back and so excited to bring you Season 2! Season 1 focused on conversations about nursing voice and advocacy with an amazing group of point of care nurses and how they brought leadership and change into their practices, despite challenging times. Season 2 focuses on the collective voice of nurses, collaboration, and how our nursing organizations liaise with nursing and each other to engage, support, listen, and act to change the current landscape of nursing. 

This season we are speaking  with:

• Angela Wignall, Director, Professional Practice & Health Policy with the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia (NNPBC), BC’s professional nursing association. 
• Patrick Chiu, Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta with a current research program about professional regulation. 
• Zachary Matieschyn, Executive Director and Chief Nursing Officer for the BC Nursing Policy Secretariat 
• Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer for Canada
• Adriane Gear, BC Nurse's Union [BCNU] President
• Christine Penney, Chief Officer and Deputy Registrar, Regulatory Policy and Programs for the BC College of Nurses & Midwives [BCCNM]
• Aggie Black, BC Representative for the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment [CANE]

Get set to hear about outstanding enthusiasm for nursing, current system level projects in nursing, and collaboration that highlights the collective voice, giving everyone hope for the future of healthcare. 

This season we will bring you a Summer Summary once again, so as you listen and have questions, email them to us and you too can participate in our Summary!

Join us to listen, wherever you get your podcasts, follow us on Instagram, and email us!  We love to hear from you!

Link to our article in the Canadian Nurse:  https://www.canadian-nurse.com/blogs/cn-content/2024/02/05/calling-all-nurses-podcast 

Notes for the season acronyms:

Allied Health Professions – other health care providers such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, and so on.
ARNBC - Association of Registered Nurses of BC
BCCNM - BC College of Nurses & Midwives
BCNU – BC Nurses Union
CNA - Canadian Nurses Association 
HHR – Health Human Resource
IEN - Internationally Educated Nurses
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse 
NNPBC – Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (formerly ARNBC)
NBA – Nurses’ Bargaining Association
NPS – Nursing Policy Secretariat within the BC Ministry of Health
RNABC - Registered Nurses Association of BC
RPN – Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

Comments and feedback can be sent to our email: [email protected]

Send a text

Listen as all our Season One guests convene and reflect on their collective perspectives and hopes, garnered from listening to each other and learning about the variety of leadership roles represented.

And true to these guests, Episode 8 Summer Summary was aptly reframed as a Love Letter to Nursing.  BRAVO! Trust all of you to elevate, evolve, and summarize in the best possible way!  And we really missed you Colleen Salter!

Stay tuned for our Season Two trailer sometime in late August...huge plans are underway!  Have a wonderful summer and keep sharing, saving, and following Calling All Nurses with all your networks! 

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

Comments and feedback can be sent to our email: [email protected]

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The First Nations Health Authority [FNHA] is the first and only provincial health authority in Canada, working to transform and reform the way health care is delivered to First Nations people in BC. The FNHA works towards the health and wellness of all First Nations in BC through its unique approach to wellness and its support of community wellness activities. ( FNHA, 2023).  

Colleen Salter is a graduate of NIC Bachelor Science in Nursing 2014 and has since completed a Master of Leadership (Health concentration) at Royal Roads University. Colleen currently works with the First Nations Health Authority as Director, Mental Wellness Clinical Services and lives on the unceded lands of the Kwakwaka’waka peoples. When not working, Colleen is dragon boating or enjoying the outdoors biking and hiking.

First Nations Health Authority:

https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do

UNDRIP: United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples - https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada:  Calls to Action - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf

In Plain Sight Full Report:  https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/613/2020/11/In-Plain-Sight-Full-Report-2020.pdf

The Village Workshop Series:  https://villageworkshopseries.com/

Medicine Unbundled:  https://www.heritagehouse.ca/book/medicine-unbundled/

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

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Public health, in general and at all levels, focus on health promotion, disease and injury prevention, primary health care, and population health. Two primary distinguishing factors of public health from other components of the health system are the focus on populations as a whole, and health promotion, prevention, and control of disease and injury rather than treatment of diseases. Listen as Laura describes how public health nurses were able to do what they do best in the most challenging of times, creating change and making history during the worldwide health emergency, called a pandemic.

Laura Hoyseth is a Registered Nurse of mixed settler ancestry living in the traditional and unceded territory of the K’omoks First Nation, where she’s had the privilege to raise her family for 26 years. Laura began her career as a Community Health Nurse for the Wuikinuxv, Dzawada'enuxw and Homalco Nations, providing nursing care and community development support in Indigenous led health care systems. Alongside this work, Laura worked in Community and Acute Care Mental Health and Primary Health Care Nursing with a focus on Chronic Pain Management. These rich community experiences and teachings fed her passion for Health Promotion and Prevention, eventually leading to a focus on Public Health Nursing with a scope including perinatal, infant, school aged and adult health with a specialization in reproductive health certified practice. During the COVID 19 Pandemic, Laura was a front line Public Health Nursing Clinical Coordinator responding to the Pandemic as it unfolded and leading teams to roll out the COVID 19 Immunization program. Laura is currently a Regional Immunization Operations Clinical Coordinator within the Population and Public Health portfolio at Island Health. Laura’s work is focused on translating overarching global, national and provincial health promotion and prevention goals to front line Public Health services within communities across the region. Laura is passionate about the profession and discipline of nursing, and its place in healthcare transformation.

Public Health Agency of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html 

BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

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In 2019, in response to the Nightingale Challenge, a global initiative encouraging health employers to provide leadership development for new nurses and midwives throughout 2020, Island Health and the University of Victoria joined forces, establishing the New Graduate RN Council.  The purpose of the New Graduate RN Council is providing new nurses with opportunities to contribute to and be mentored in leadership, governance, and change. (Island Health, 2020). Building on the research of Judy Boychuk Duchscher, who studied new graduate transitions, the New Grad RN Council seeks to understand and support new graduates through the transition process from education to practice. Josh Duncan chairs the New Grad RN Council and will talk about both transitions of new grads as well as mentorship, leadership, and working as a new nurse during a global pandemic and why intravenous starts are not the most important skill in nursing. 

Josh Duncan has been a registered nurse for five years, having worked primarily in Med/Surg and the ICU. He is passionate about new graduate nurse advocacy, transition to practice, and baking the ultimate pie. Although blackberry pie will always be one of his personal favourites, his caramel apple and chocolate cherry pies are forces to be reckoned with.

Island Health Grad Transition Infogram:

https://www.islandhealth.ca/sites/default/files/careers/documents/new-grad-transition-stages.pdf

Instagram: @calling.all.nurses

Comments and feedback can be sent to our email: [email protected]