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As people return to living, nurses are involved in so many steps of the rehabilitation journey. They help patients recover from their wounds, take their medications, learn to eat and even use the bathroom. They also take a major role in planning patients' rehab care.
We're giving our nurses the latest skills they need to rebuild our patients' lives. This year, we have enhanced our nurses' scope of practice, creating a collaborative model of care where Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) can each use their skills in an environment of teamwork, accountability and learning.
To make this possible, we've made significant investments in the education of our RPNs. Through an extensive, in-house clinical education program, developed in partnership with George Brown College, we trained 22 RPNs to assume an enhanced role in patient care. Thanks to this year-long program, RPNs in two of our four inpatient units now take on their own patient assignments, complete full initial assessments and give medications to stable patients. Nurses have also streamlined their work, adopting consistent approaches to:
From left:
Nadia Taha, Greg Paterson,
and Eileen Knibb
Not only do our patients receive care from the most appropriate, skilled professionals, but our nursing staff also expresses an increased level of satisfaction. Our nurses report that their new roles are challenging and more rewarding.
The first phase of this education program was supported in part by a $70,000 grant from St. John's Rehab Foundation. Providing continuing education, which is not publicly funded, is only possible thanks to the ongoing support of our donors.