Advocacy in Action

Advocacy is a vital component of the work that we do. 

Our advocacy efforts include many different strategies to influence decision-making at a variety of levels, ranging from individual meetings to speak on behalf of our members, to supporting students and practicing nurses in utilizing our advocacy toolkit to guide their efforts. 

We have worked very hard to establish ourselves as a credible and valued organization that supports your professional practice and advances the profession of nursing. 

scroll down to see all the issues. 

Working with government

Executive director Mary Smith met with Cameron Friesen, Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living in March to talk about supporting nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for collaboration. The Association has continued to provide resources and information to the government throughout the pandemic. 

Additionally, we have regular meetings and contacts with the department of Health, Seniors and Active Living; Shared Services Manitoba; and each of the regional health authorities. These connections allow us the opportunity to voice the concerns and share the questions we hear from members.

Long-term care 

In partnership with the Manitoba Gerontological Nursing Association (MGNA), we are advocating for needed change in long-term care. This includes requests for additional support during COVID-19, but just as importantly for long-term change. We are looking for three things:

1. An evaluation of the current long-term care standards to align with current needs
2. Support for Bill 212 to be passed, which requires the average amount of direct nursing care provided to a resident to be at least four hours per day
3. Designated long-term care expertise as part of the pandemic response

Results

• August 24: Together with MGNA, we met with Uzoma Asagwara, MLA, NDP Critic for Health, Seniors and Active Living to advocate for these actions.
• September 9: Together with MGNA we met with Dr. Jon Gerrard, Liberal MLA to discuss both long-term care and the outsourcing of core public health services during COVID-19.

RFP regarding the outsources of core public health services during COVID-19

On September 4, together with the Community Health Nurses of Manitoba (CHNM) we sent a letter to Premier Pallister expressing our concern about the request for proposals (RFP) to provide COVID-19 contact tracing and case investigation services for the province.  Outsourcing core public health services fails to recognize the training, specialized skills and knowledge of public health nurses and other providers. Further, an outsourced provider will not be able to fully integrate with the public health system – a system that already has the potential to address Manitoba’s need if adequately supported. 

We asked the government to:

• Set the RFP aside 
• Provide additional supports to the existing public health system
• Continue to support an expanded public health system beyond the pandemic

Read the letter below.

Nursing Strategy Steering Committee

ARNM was tapped by Shared Health Manitoba to participate on and provide support to the Nursing Strategy Steering Committee which has been tasked with seeking feedback from nurses related to their experience with the recent health care transformation process.

NP tarrifs with WCB

We are collaborating with the Nurse Practitioner Association of Manitoba (NPAM) and Workers Compensation Board to discuss discrepancies between physician and NP tariffs for equal work. 

English proficiency requirement

The Association supported students in utilizing our advocacy toolkit to guide their feedback related to the proposed English proficient requirement for their certificate of practice. 

Homelessness and poverty

We continue to work with End Homelessness Winnipeg, the lead agency for the volunteer-driven, community-based initiative Gi-zhe Waa Ti-Sii-Win: working with love, kindness and generosity for others. ARNM members volunteered at the past two events by providing foot care education and services.

As well, the Association is working with other not for profit groups to develop a comprehensive poverty reduction plan including targets & timelines to reduce poverty.

 

Harm reduction

With direction provided by membership, the Association continues to make harm reduction a priority. Recently we’ve:

• Participated as a member of the Community Mental Health and Addictions Network
• Supported and promoted the work of Project Safe Audience
• Offered professional development opportunities and resources to members

Safe, quality practice environments 

Safe quality practice environments are a topic that we stress whenever and wherever we can, particularly during this pandemic. The Association has supported efforts from the Canadian Nurses Association, Infection Prevention and Control Association of Canada and the provincial government, emphasizing the need for appropriate resources and equitable supply of personal protective equipment in order to safely practice.  

Nurse manager forums

ARNM formed a partnership with Brandon University researchers who completed a study on the Role Stressors and Coping Strategies of Nurse Managers in rural Manitoba. Together, with the research team we travelled to sites to provide opportunities for nurse managers to come together to validate the findings and provide feedback on the recommendations. 

ARNM will be building a leadership resource section based on the research recommendations and feedback from the participants.

Truth and reconciliation

On June 18, the Association signed Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord. The Accord is a living document, not a single time event, but an ongoing responsibility accepted by the signatories. By becoming partners to the Accord, the Association agrees to report the success of our commitment to reconciliation and our future goals annually. 

Our goal

To improve the healthcare experience and health outcomes of Indigenous peoples. The Association is committed to increasing our members’ knowledge and skills related to cultural competency and sensitivity by providing professional development opportunities and workshops related to Calls to Action 18-24 set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

Our results

For 2019, the Association reported:

ARNM made a conscious effort to include content that referred to the health needs of the Indigenous peoples and recognition of the value of indigenous healing practices, in professional development sessions that related to nursing practice. 

We regularly collaborate with Indigenous nurse leaders who work in a variety of organizations, such as First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSS) and Saint Elizabeth Health Care (SEHC), as well as professional associations such as Manitoba Indigenous Nurses Inc. and at the national level through Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association.

This year we sought out Indigenous nurses to:

• Participate on the Association’s provincial Nursing Now Manitoba steering committee that would provide oversight and inform the development and implementation of a plan to honour and celebrate nurses and midwives throughout the province.
• Act as 1 of 15 MB voting delegates at the Canadian Nurse’s Association (CNA) national professional association’s virtual AGM June 22nd
• Participate on the Association’s operational committees - advocacy and professional development
• Encouraged Indigenous nurses to nominate self or others for director position during board elections

Our recruitment ads and position description for the public representative on the board of directors, indicated preference for a community member with an Indigenous perspective.