Nursing practice has become more and more complex. Some roles have been more established, and some continue to develop. If you asked a group of nurses about the type of specialties they work in, you would likely hear about the ones that nurses have traditionally practiced in –emergency care, intensive care, maternity, pediatrics, med/surg, and read more…
I am always amazed, and a bit shocked, when I think about how much the world has changed in the 20 years since I began my nursing career as a student at the University of Victoria. We were still in the early days of the Internet back then, and had no idea that two decades read more…
During my four years in the Kwantlen BSN program, I have had placements in various clinical areas which have enabled me to work with different populations in multiple specialities. While these learning opportunities have been invaluable, until my final preceptorship, it never really occurred to me how necessary it was for nursing schools to offer read more…
When Judy, a registered nurse, moved to B.C. in the late 1990’s, she arrived having taken a foot care course from a Podiatrist in Ontario. In fact, she had been practicing in Ontario as a foot care nurse for 10 years before moving to B.C. On her arrival to register with what was then the read more…
There are around 800 clinicians in home and community care, of which approximately 550 are RNs and LPNs across the 14 health units in Island Health. Nurses practicing in home and community care are skilled professionals with a wide knowledge base. They care for some of the most complex and diverse patients such as those read more…
As students, we are fed many different messages about nursing. Entering the profession, we’re told it is going to be hard and push our limits. We’re told that school will overwhelm us (but don’t forget self-care!). It’ll be a catalyst for transformation and growth. We’re told to persevere and that, in the end, the reward read more…
In the first six months of this year, 371 British Columbians died due to an overdose. This is a 74.2% increase from the previous year. Almost one quarter of these deaths are people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opiod was detected alone or in combination with other drugs in up read more…
The downtown eastside is a fascinating place to practice nursing with a rich history, diverse population and artistic flair. It is also a place where many people struggle daily without adequate housing, employment or support to manage substance use and mental health issues exacerbated by trauma and pain. But there are numerous individuals who have read more…
With the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report last summer, and the commitment from the Federal government to move the Aboriginal health agenda forward, there has been a renewed commitment to improve the health of Aboriginal peoples. We have also witnessed Aboriginal leaders being represented at the highest levels of decision-making, including the read more…
Approximately eighty five percent of British Columbians live and work in a city or within a short distance of a town that has a population of at least 1,000 residents. This has an important impact on healthcare as certain services can only be found in cities and towns with a large population base. If you read more…