Happy Nursing Week!

Good morning,

Nurses across Canada will be celebrating a week in their honour, starting today! National Nursing Week is from May 8th to 14th, with National Nursing Day falling on Friday, May 12th.

This year, the Canadian Nurses’ Association (CNA) has chosen the theme #YesThisIsNursing to help guide celebrations for 2017 and 2018. As nurses who work in all areas of health care interact with technology on a daily basis, the CNA is using National Nursing Week to highlight the ever-changing role technology plays in nursing practise. From dopplers to assess circulation, to heart monitors to assess for cardiac changes; from helicopters to do air rescue, to VAC machines for vacuum-assisted wound closure, nurses work with, use, and assess appropriateness of technology that the public might not realise.

The CNA is using the hashtag #YesThisIsNursing to help inform the public that the role of the nurse, including the work they perform, is evolving to incorporate high-tech equipment that often requires extra training and certification. To help get into the spirit of the week, the NSGEU Nurses’ Council is asking nursing members to post selfies using the CNA hashtag (#YesThisIsNursing) and #YesWeAreTheNSGEU to Facebook. Please ensure your photos are mindful of patient/employer confidentiality concerns, and that your captions include your name, the area you work in, and what you do! The council will be drawing for gift certificates for a night at the movies from those who submit photos using those hashtags.

Because the Council realizes not all nurses are active on social media, members of the Council will also be handing out ballots to be entered into the draw, along with pens, NSGEU handbooks and other items at some worksites throughout the week. So keep your eyes open for NSGEU Nurses’ Council members in your workplace!

Throughout the week, the NSGEU Nurses’ Council will also be profiling a different nurse each day, to help raise awareness of the important work being done by our nursing members. If you aren’t already following the NSGEU on Facebook, you can find us at https://www.facebook.com/nsgeu/

A Message from NSGEU President Jason MacLean

Good morning,

To mark National Nursing Week, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the incredible work you do, each and every day, in caring for Nova Scotians.

NSGEU nurses are with their patients every step of the way, and you have proven to be tireless advocates, speaking out on issues of patient safety.

I have a great deal of respect for the care nurses deliver – often in very difficult circumstances – and am looking forward to working with you to improve your working conditions and, ultimately, outcomes for patients.

NSGEU nurses have led the way over the years, calling for much-needed improvements to our health care system, and will continue to do so.

We appreciate your dedication to the people of Nova Scotia.

In solidarity,

Jason MacLean

President, NSGEU