May 11, 2006
Nurses holding events for Nursing Week
Nurses and health organizations are holding many kinds of events around Alberta for National Nursing Week. These events are held in recognition of the tremendous contribution Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses make in our society. Check with your Local organization for Nursing Week events that may be held in your area.
Canadian Nurses Association predicts what nursing will look like in 2020
The nursing profession is going to change dramatically in the near future according to a study released for Nursing Week by the Canadian Nurses Association. The vision paper predicts some important changes, including that most nurses will work outside acute hospitals. Nurses will not take on tasks, like medication administration, that can be doen safely by patients themselves or by non-human care (robots).
Most nurses will work in interdisciplinary teams and will act as “shepherds” coordinating care and helping patients navigate the health system. LPNs will have greater responsibility in long-term and transitional care. The paper also suggests that nurses in all categories will hold pan-Canadian licenses granted after graduation from accredited schools of nursing. The national CNAT exam will be gone. They say graduating with a diploma in practical nursing or a degree in nursing or psychiatric nursing will be enough.
See the paper on the CAN website at cna-nurses.ca.
Appealing denials of prescription coverage
UNA and HBA Services, representing the Health Regions, have issued a further joint statement on prescription coverage and on how to appeal a denial of coverage of a prescription. This is in addition to the process announced earlier to handle claims that were filed before February 1, 2006.
An employee who wants to appeal a claim for a prescribed medication denied by the insurance company, needs to complete the Medication Claim Denial Appeal Form. These forms are available from Employers and UNA representatives.
To be approved, the medication must be dispensed by a pharmacist, and prescribed by a physician or dentist, to correct or treat a medical condition based on a diagnosis made by the physician or dentist.
The deadline for appeals of claims from before February 1, 2006 was April 30, so this new process must now be used.
A copy of the documentation on the new process is available through your Local, from your LRO or on the UNA website, una.ab.ca.
UNA in coalition that mounts campaign on improving long-term care
New “standards” for long-term care make no mention of Registered nurses
On May 9, a provincial network of seniors, community, professional and labour organizations launched a campaign to tell the government that Alberta’s Seniors Deserve Better. Public Interest of Alberta coordinated the launch on the one year anniversary of the Auditor General’s report into seniors care. The organizations are calling on the government to take action by implementing five key steps that will make a real difference in the lives of Alberta’s seniors.
UNA was represented at the campaign launch by 2nd Vice President Jane Sustrik who said: “In these new standards, there is NO requirement that a Registered Nurse be on duty, or even that a licensed practical nurse be on duty. There is NO measurable standard that a long-term care facility can be held accountable for.”
Several speakers criticized the government’s new standards which had just been released the week before.
Registered nurses always advocate for patients, Jane Sustrik told the crowd, and that’s why nurses are supporting the campaign.
“We don’t want a province where it is public care for most everyone, but the Third Way private care for the elderly and infirm. That would be the greatest injustice,” Jane said.
Peace Region announces incentives, $250 a month bonus
Peace Country Health Region recently announced a number of incentives to retain and recruit staff, including a northern allowance of $250 a month.
The Region had earlier announced a $2 an hour wage supplement for housekeeping, laundry and food services workers, personal care aides and nursing attendants. The northern allowance is for other staff not covered by the $2 an hour boost.
Peace Country says it needs the allowance to provide “direct financial compensation to overcome costs of living in our growing northern region. The allowance will be pro-rated for part-time and causal staff, based on hours worked.”
The Region is also offering a recruitment bounty to existing employees who help recruit new permanent staff. The “referral fee” will increase from $1000 to $2500 for professionals, and from $200 to $1000 for support staff.
Doctors taking stand for medicare
A national group of physicians has formed a new organization to advocate for public health care, Canadian Doctors For Medicare.
“Medicare is under threat, and our patients need us to stand up for them,” says a statement from the group that invites doctors to join.
“Since the introduction of our single-payer insurance system, Canadians have had to reaffirm their commitment to the principle that we should provide health care based on need, rather than ability to pay,” the organization says.
More information at canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca
Ontario promises full-time work to all nursing graduates
The Ontario government said this week that it guarantees full-time employment to all nursing graduates in the province starting next year.
About 4,000 new nurses are expected to graduate in Ontario in 2007.
The province also said it would put $1-million toward tuition costs for nursing students interested in practising in rural, remote and underserved communities.
Health Minister George Smitherman also said registered practical nurses will be authorized to initiate some procedures, including dressing and cleaning wounds and assisting with the insertion of a catheter.
The Ontario government also said it would increase the number of nurse practitioner education spots to 150 starting in September, one year ahead of the province’s previous schedule.
The Ontario Nurses’ Association has been running a major “not enough nurses” campaign designed to bring attention to the province’s registered nursing shortage. The province has pledged to create 8,000 new nursing jobs.
300 Nurses tell Ontario Premier to stop P3 hospitals
More than 300 nurses across Ontario have written a joint letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty asking him to stop the privatization of Ontario’s hospitals. In their letter, the nurses told McGuinty: “We are writing to express our strong opposition to your government’s policy of hospital financing through “P3s” or public-private partnerships.
“Ontario is already in the middle of a serious nursing shortage,” said Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA). “This policy will mean even less nursing care for our patients because money will be taken out of clinical budget to pay for the profits expected by private investors and the high fees charged by consultants.”
On the Lighter Side
Nurses gone to heaven
Two nurses died and went to Heaven, where they were met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter. To the first, he asked, “So, what did you used to do? Why do you think you should be allowed to come into Heaven?”
“I was a nurse at a missionary hospital in the Amazon basin,” she replied. “For many years, I worked with a skeleton crew of doctors and nurses who tried to reach out to as many people across numerous tribes, with a hand of healing and peace, and with the message about God’s love.”
“Very noble,” said St. Peter. “You may enter.”
To the next, he asked the same question, “So, what did you used to do?”
After some hesitation, she explained, “I was just a nurse at an HMO.”
St. Peter pondered, and then said, “Ok, you may enter, too.”
“For a moment I thought you weren’t going to let me in.” said the nurse.
“You can come in,” said St. Peter, “but you can only stay for three days.”
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