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Flu Shots, Still the Healthy Choice, by Julie Fraser RN

Earlier today, ARNBC participated in the Ministry of Health’s launch of the Annual Provincial Flu Campaign and hope this event will remind all British Columbians to get an annual flu shot.  It’s certainly a great reminder to health professionals that we too need to protect ourselves from influenza. On October 24, 2013, an arbitrator dismissed the grievance brought by the B.C. Health Sciences Association (HSA) against the B.C. government policy… Read More »Flu Shots, Still the Healthy Choice, by Julie Fraser RN

Making a Difference for those with Mental Illness, by Scott Harrison RN

The events of the past week in Newtown, Connecticut are almost beyond comprehension.  Whilst the media attempt to help the public ‘make sense’ of a senseless tragedy, social media sites are alive with debate on who is to blame, how further tragedy can be avoided and questions about what happens next. As a Registered Nurse who has worked with marginalized populations for my (to date) 20 year career in nursing,… Read More »Making a Difference for those with Mental Illness, by Scott Harrison RN

Mourning and Moving On in Newtown: How can nursing influence policy change?, by Suzanne Campbell NP PhD

It was a normal Friday morning and having not yet weaned myself from “Good Morning America” after six months in B.C., I was checking in on the news.  I was shocked to hear of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, my home for the past twelve years until I moved to Vancouver last summer. Shock and disbelief followed, but the early reports did not sound too… Read More »Mourning and Moving On in Newtown: How can nursing influence policy change?, by Suzanne Campbell NP PhD

A Nursing Call to Action: Are we ready to respond?, by Jeanne Besner RN PhD

In the recently released report of the National Expert Commission (NEC), nurses were challenged to use their collective knowledge to be a mighty force in ensuring better health, better care and better value in healthcare delivery for all Canadians. The Commission noted that new models of care delivery “should be centred on what individuals and families need, should treat the individual as a whole person…, and should ensure that all… Read More »A Nursing Call to Action: Are we ready to respond?, by Jeanne Besner RN PhD

Flu Shots for Healthcare Workers: Government Answers Your Questions

On October 24, 2012, we posted about Government’s new influenza protection policy for health workers.  The discussion has been ongoing ever since, and several nurses have submitted comments or emailed us with questions about how the new policy will impact them.  Not wanting to leave our readers hanging, we asked the Ministry to provide answers to some of the key questions nurses have raised. 1.  Could the Association work with… Read More »Flu Shots for Healthcare Workers: Government Answers Your Questions

Update: Flu Shots - The Healthy Choice, by Leanna Loy RN

On August 23, 2012, the B.C. Government introduced new influenza measures designed to protect patients and seniors from being exposed to influenza.  ARNBC has been discussing the importance of nurses getting flu shots for quite some time, and was pleased to publish a blogpost on the topic written by Board Member Leanna Loy (October 24, 2011).

In light of the changes initiated by government, we are pleased to re-post “Flu Shots – The Healthy Choice” to provide some context around the current discussion.  We encourage all nurses to reflect on this important issue and share your thoughts about the new policy in the comments section below.

Read More »Update: Flu Shots - The Healthy Choice, by Leanna Loy RN

Legalizing Marijuana: The Importance of Nursing Knowledge to Inform Drug Policy, by Bernie Pauly RN

In the Vancouver Sun on March 28th, 2012, there was an announcement that Dr. Perry Kendall, B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer, has joined other provincial, national and international experts arguing for the decriminalization of marijuana (http://tinyurl.com/6rromxw). This is good news. The harms of drug use are exacerbated by current drug policy, which focuses on the criminalization of people who use illegal drugs.  In particular, current drug policy impacts those who are… Read More »Legalizing Marijuana: The Importance of Nursing Knowledge to Inform Drug Policy, by Bernie Pauly RN

Positioning the Nurse-Family Partnership Program in British Columbia – How can it be a win-win for optimum family health? by Susan Duncan RN

In January 2012, the B.C. Government plans to launch the Nurse-Family Partnership program (NFP), a nurse home-visitation program offered to vulnerable, young, first-time mothers who have low incomes and are at an early stage in their pregnancy (28 weeks or earlier). ). The program is based on compelling research evidence from US studies that demonstrates the importance of intensive nurse follow-up for high risk families. As nurses, we should support… Read More »Positioning the Nurse-Family Partnership Program in British Columbia – How can it be a win-win for optimum family health? by Susan Duncan RN

The Costs of Poverty in BC: Nurses’ Voices Matter! by Paddy Rodney RN


Registered nurses and nurse practitioners provide care for individuals, families and communities from all walks of life across British Columbia. Many of the people we encounter face complex health and social challenges—and such challenges are especially complex for those who live in poverty. The BC Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) recently released a compelling report about “The Cost of Poverty in BC”.

Read More »The Costs of Poverty in BC: Nurses’ Voices Matter! by Paddy Rodney RN