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RNAO & RNs WeiGH iN ON… NURsiNG in the newS by stAcey HALe Nurses take on contagious superbug A deadly outbreak of C. difficile hit Southwestern Ontario this past summer, taking the lives of more than 30 pa- Sue Matthews tients. RNAO members Sue Matthews, Liz Pearson and Kim Stephens-Woods weighed in on the outbreak and kept the public informed about its spread and severity. Niagara Health System (NHS) declared an outbreak at one of its hospitals in St. Catharines on May 28. Four weeks later, outbreaks were declared at its hospitals in Niagara Falls and Welland. C. difficile causes severe diarrhea and travels easily from person to person through hand contact. It’s one of the most common infections in hospitals and long-term P H O T care homes, and it’s not unusual for outbreaks to last O : Q weeks — if not months — before coming to a resolution. MI AG “As a nurse, my heart goes out to people who have suf- E N C fered with the illness and to those who have lost a loved Y one,” Sue Matthews, Interim President and CEO of Niagara fellow staff cope with an outbreak in July. Health System, told the Welland Tribune. “We are working seven RNAO President David McNeil also spoke publicly about the days a week around the clock to manage this outbreak, and car- challenges with C. difficile. He told the Sudbury Star it is not un- ing for our patients is our central priority.” (July 6) usual to have patients with the contagious superbug in hospi- Stephens-Woods, NHS VP of patient services, worked along- tal most of the time. It is only when the number of cases rises side an infection control expert to review NHS practices, clean- above baseline levels that it is declared an outbreak. (July 8) ing schedules and information sharing strategies in an effort to Be sure to watch for our in-depth feature about outbreaks curtail the outbreak. And Pearson, manager of infection control of communicable disease in the Nov/Dec 2011 issue of at Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre, helped Registered Nurse Journal. Top court rules safe health,” Grinspun told the prescriptions for smoking Nurses applaud crack injection site can Toronto Star (sept. 30). the rul- cessation drugs champix and down on illegal billing remain open ing brings the treatment of drug Zyban through the Ontario RNAO President-elect Rhonda in september, RNAO executive addicts into the 21st century, she drug benefit Plan. RNAO Seidman-Carlson applauded a director Doris Grinspun praised added. “We need governments member Rosemary Lamont, new hotline set up by the prov- a supreme court ruling to that are guided by evidence a york Region public health incial government that allows keep insite – vancouver’s safe and not by dogma or ideology.” nurse, says the cost of cessa- people to call and report cases injection facility – open. the top (Canadian Press, sept. 30) tion drugs is often a barrier for of potentially illegal fees that court granted the site exemption people who want to quit but health-care providers charge from federal drug laws, allowing Province funds need help, especially those with for services covered by OHiP. nurses and other health-care additional smoking low income. “smoking is not a the snitch line was created in professionals to continue to pro- cessation drugs lifestyle choice, but an addiction response to evidence that doc- vide clients with expert support smokers who want to kick the … these medications increase tors and clinics are routinely to overcome addiction. “this habit were offered a help- the rate of success by two to violating the Canada Health Act is a treatment, an intervention, ing hand in August when four times,” she told the Aurora by charging patients extra fees that saves lives and improves the province started funding Banner. (July 29) to access health-care services. 8 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 NURsiNG in the newS by stAcey HALe in 2008, RNAO, the Ontario ism and for crystal meth use. completed both the theoretical after nursing education shifted Health coalition (OHc) and “… We definitely (feel) a treat- and the practical components of from hospital-based residence doctors for medicare unveiled ment centre in our area would sANe training. three more will programs to the college and an OHc report detailing almost be a benefit to everybody,” she start training in November. university system. RNAO mem- 90 violations of the Act across told the Owen Sound Sun Times ber Winnie Doyle, st. Joseph’s the country, including examples (Aug. 19). in addition to taking Nursing alumnae trade current chief nursing executive at 11 private clinics in Ontario. her concerns to council, ernest memories of beloved and vice-president of patient in barely a month, the hotline presented her proposal to her school services, says the alumnae are triggered more than 30 inves- local mPP and to the minister Alumnae from the former st. known for their fierce loyalty to tigations and the government of community safety and cor- Joseph’s school of Nursing in the school and for their success- has ordered reimbursement to rectional services. Hamilton gathered over tea ful membership numbers and thousands of patients for extra and snacks in september to annual reunions. (sept. 7) fees they had been wrongfully More sexual assault celebrate the school’s 100th charged. seidman-carlson said nurse examiners anniversary. Among former Restraint is a last resort, these violations are significant, coming to Ottawa graduates were RNAO mem- says Guelph nurse and could lead to a system where to ensure sex assault victims get bers Ida Porteous, Bev Green- One in four mental health those who can afford to pay more the care they need, the Ottawa wood and Elizabeth Kroch. the patients have experienced will get better service. “that is a Hospital is moving its Sexual women were featured in a Ham- some form of restraint, slippery slope … you start having Assault and Partner Abuse Care ilton Spectator article about the according to a study released a for-profit system,” she told the Program away from its current school’s reputation for turning in August by the canadian National Post. (Aug. 17) on-call structure, to having out some of the best nurses in institute for Health informa- nurses in the hospital 16 out of the country. the school opened tion (ciHi). RN Eileen Bain, Walkerton RN 24 hours each day. RNs who in 1911 and closed in 1978, patient services vice-president proposes treatment are qualified as sexual at Guelph General centre to replace assault nurse examiners Hospital, responded to local jails (sANe), will also be the study with details corrections nurse Barb Ernest available during the night of Guelph General’s would like to see a new regional shift to see clients within minimal restraint policy. remand and treatment centre one hour of being paged. “Restraint is an absolute replace the Walkerton Jail and RNAO member Janet last resort,” she told the Owen sound Jail, which the Brownlee, who leads Waterloo Region Record province plans to close as part the program, responded (Aug 24). the hospital of its 2011 budget. during a to the news saying, “we reviews and evaluates presentation to bruce county owe it to our population every incident and council in August, ernest, to be there 24/7, so we’re restraint parameters who is the senior nurse at the going to put the staff in are clearly defined and Walkerton Jail, recommended place,” (Ottawa Sun, Aug. restricted, the article a 200-bed facility to address 17). this small group of suggests. between 2006 some of the health concerns that part-time/on-call sANe and 2010, ciHi looked are present in the region. “We nurses will ensure clients at the experiences of are in the western region of the receive the best possible 30,000 in-patients in corrections (ministry) and we care from those who have Ontario psychiatric do not have a treatment centre. appropriate knowledge, facilities or mental All of the other regions … have skill and ability to provide health units of acute treatment centres,” ernest said, that care, brownlee adds. care hospitals. it found adding Grey and bruce are currently, the hospital Ida Porteous holds up her nursing 24 per cent encountered uniform from the 60s. noted for high rates of alcohol- has 10 nurses who have some form of control REGISTERED NURSE JOURNAL 9 NURsiNG in the newS intervention, such as medica- to come through on their prom- OUT AND ABOUT tions, restraints or seclusion. ises. Let’s also ask them to look check out the study online by critically at the way home care visiting www.cihi.ca. is funded to ensure that access to quality home care services is On Oct. 3, RNAO member available to people wherever they Andrea Baumann wrote a letter live, whatever their income and to the toronto star to share her whenever required. concern about competitive bidding Andrea Baumann for home care contracts. Waterloo, Ontario Competitive bidding Out with coal, in with hurting home care renewable energy Re: What became of the plan RNAO member Lel Morrison for aging at home? Opinion spoke out in favour of wind Sept. 27 turbines and renewable energy i am very concerned about during a news conference at home care’s current funding stratford General Hospital in mechanism, including com- August. the nurse practitioner WELLINGTON RNs HELP BUILD HOME FOR GUELPH FAMILY petitive bidding. this has led and member of Ontario Nurses Members of RNAO’s Wellington chapter teamed up with members to a deterioration of home care for the environment (an RNAO of the Ontario Nurses’ Association and Habitat for Humanity in July services and, very likely, contrib- interest group) joined the min- to raise awareness of the need for a national housing strategy.