Nurses’ Voices: Season Two

In our Season Two finale, join us for an honest and personal conversation with Michael J. Villeneuve, RN, MSc, FAAN, who retired in May 2022 as the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). Michael reflects on his 44-year career in nursing, sharing how he started out as an orderly and progressed to become CEO of CNA, with many unique roles along the way. Michael discusses the personally challenging choices he made which took his career down paths he never would have thought possible, what he’s learned during his many years in the profession, and his thoughts on how to ensure a viable and sustainable nursing future. Watch and listen to Michael’s stories now.

Join us for a thoughtful discussion with Irene Andress, RN, MN, Vice President, Programs and Services and Chief Nursing Executive at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Irene discusses her current role in nursing leadership and how she is able to influence change at the point of care. By being visible, accessible, creative, and innovative, Irene discusses how she is able to open doors and remove barriers in order to improve patient care and address the ongoing staffing crisis in nursing. Watch and listen to Irene’s stories now.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Karen Lake, RN, BN, Caregiving Consultant and Care Navigator in Fredericton, New Brunswick. After a 25 year career as a Registered Nurse in various roles including her last role as a manager in home health care, Karen launched her own caregiving consultancy focused on helping people navigate the complex issues of caring for aging loved ones. Karen shares insights about becoming a business owner and lessons she’s learned being an entrepreneur while embracing a more fulfilling career path. Watch and listen to Karen’s stories now.

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Clinton Baretto NP, BScN, MSc (Bristol), Executive Director at Homeless Health Peel and Felicia Kontopidis RN, BScN, Director of Care at Journey Home Hospice. Clinton and Felicia are what we would call nurse innovators, nurses who find creative approaches to providing nursing care. They each have their own unique and compelling stories that have brought them to their current roles, caring and advocating for individuals who are homeless. Watch and listen to their stories now.

Join us for an honest and personal conversation with Leigh Chapman, RN, PhD, Adjunct Lecturer, Graduate Program at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Leigh shares the story of her brother Brad, who died of a drug overdose and homeless at the age of 43. After this, Leigh became an advocate for harm reduction amongst those experiencing homelessness, in order to reduce stigma and discrimination and increase care. Her journey has been challenging both personally and professionally, and sharing this story will hopefully encourage other nurses to help with meaningful causes that are important to them. Watch and listen to Leigh’s stories now.

Join us for a lively conversation with Jane Kraut, RN, BN, BA, a Graduate Student at the College of Nursing at the University of Manitoba. Jane discusses what brought her to the nursing profession as a second career, after working in the business world for a number of years. Jane opens up about what drove her to pursue nursing in her 30s, successfully juggling the responsibilities of parenthood with going back to school to head down a new career path. Watch and listen to her stories now.

Join us for a conversation with Kenely Lamsen RN and Anne Marie Shin RN, MN, MSc (QIPS) about the challenges that Kenely and other Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) face in becoming registered in Ontario. Kenely describes her journey to Canada and the steps she’s undertaken towards registration in Ontario by completing clinical hours, while Anne Marie Shin, Director of Professional Practice at the College of Nurses of Ontario, shares steps the College is taking towards improving the processes to assist IENs in their goal of becoming registered. Watch and listen to their stories now.

Join us for an honest and candid discussion with Adigo Angela Achoba-Omajali, RN, BScN, MN and Janice John-Mitchell, RN, BA, MBA about racism in nursing and healthcare. Angela and Janice describe their own lived experiences facing racism in the healthcare system and share important insights on the systemic presence of racism, and the education and actions that need to be taken to overcome these significant challenges. Watch and listen to their stories now.

Join us for a compelling conversation with Athanasius “Tanas” Sylliboy BScN, MN, NP, ENC©, of Eskasoni First Nation, is a Mi’kmaw Primary Care Nurse Practitioner in Millbrook, Nova Scotia. Watch and listen as Tanas discusses his practice of Indigenous health and healing, and how racism persists in the healthcare system and stands in the way of equitable access to care amongst racialized communities. Watch and listen to Tanas’s story now.

Join us as we talk with Vicky Sharma-Vermani, RN, BScN, MScN, MHM, Patient Care Manager and Kristen Vila, RN, BN, Coordinating Nurse who both work at Trillium Health Partners, Credit Valley site, in Mississauga, Ontario. Vicky and Kristen explain how throughout the challenging times of COVID-19, their unit continues to foster positive teamwork and support systems which allows for high quality nursing care, opportunities for growth and development for staff, and a positive and joyful work environment. Watch and listen to their stories now.

Join us as we talk with Rani Srivastava, RN, PhD, FCAN, Dean, School of Nursing at Thompson Rivers University, on the state of nursing education in Canada and its potential for the future. The country needs nurses, and people want to become nurses, but challenges remain to provide well funded quality education. Hear Rani’s thoughts on what needs to change to attract and maintain nursing students and nurses in practice through attention to diversity, inclusion and innovation and her hopes for the future. Watch and listen to Rani’s story now.

In the first episode of our new season, we speak with Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy, Vice-President, Research, Innovation & Discovery and Chief Nurse Executive at Nova Scotia Health about the ongoing nursing staffing and human resource challenges in Canada, where up to 30% of the nursing workforce is out due to COVID-19. However, there is optimism that with the right strategies and investments, we have an opportunity to address nursing staffing issues, retain nurses and improve care delivery in Canada. Watch and listen to Gail’s story now.