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Both nurses intend to share their new knowledge with colleagues. “I am sharing conference highlights through my role as the [Providence Healthcare] nursing practice council co-chair and through the different staff engagement meetings that we have at work,” says Pichette. Both nurses report that the biggest challenge of the conference was deciding which of the many educational opportunities to take advantage of. “They had so many different topics that apply to us in this province,” says Pichette. Pichette encourages other members to take advantage of future BCNU funded professional development opportunities. “Just throw your hat in the ring, you never know,” she says. Bergen agrees. “I would encourage my colleagues to apply for any professional development opportunities that come up. You get to meet fantastic nurses, you are exposed to brand new ideas and it’s just a really rewarding experience that brings richness and inspiration to the job.” In 1971, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, as International Nurses Day. In 1985, Canadian Nursing Association members passed a resolution to begin negotiations with the federal government to have the week containing May 12 proclaimed as National Nursing Week annually. Soon after, the federal minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nursing Week. •
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CELEBRATING NURSES BCNU members across the province took time out of their busy schedules on National Nursing Week from, May 7 –13 to acknowledge the incredible work they do in their communities.
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THE PEOPLE 1. BCNU Pacific Rim region members and Nanaimo Health Unit worksite stewards Graham Olds and Will Chambers fire up the barbecue. 2. South Islands region members Leslie Zinger, Patti Pettipiece, Joel Williamson, Belinda Anderson, Jayne Yearwood, Michelle Sauk and Eleanor Elston celebrate at Victoria General Hospital. 3. BCNU RIVA region chair Sara Mattu (far right) joins Richmond General Hospital members in front of the BCNU bus. 4. BCNU North East region members Nicole Smith, Amanda Johnson and Eva Obeng celebrate at Fort St. James’s Stuart Lake Hospital. 5. BCNU North East region members Jessica Madrid, Nicole Ray, Sonja Wall and Kinga Sikline Hompot celebrate at Fraser Lake’s Community Health Care Centre. 6. BCNU Coastal Mountain region members Dan Desmarais and David Kang reach out to co-workers at Lions Gate Hospital. 7. BCNU West Kootenay region chair Ron Poland (right) celebrates in Trail with Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital members Caroline Fulton, Jeanie Todd, Peter Herd and retired nurse Pam Moro. 8. BCNU Simon Fraser region co-chair Wendy Gibbs (left) joins stewards Feruza Abdjalieva and Ron Morley, along with region co-chair Lynn Lagace and mental health rep Sue Ellen Larsen.
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UPDATE MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2018
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