This is the first year I do not carry the title of RN. I am retired and enjoying it, still possessing the knowledge, judgment, and empathy from my previous career. That came to light when a friend was out of province with her spouse, who had a stroke. The ability to listen, assess, clarify, and support my friend’s perception of what was happening. Navigating the health care system in your own province is challenging enough, and being two provinces away revealed how the safety net is there, though there can be some significant holes in it.

I was transparent that my advice was not as a nurse, protected title, but as a knowledgeable friend, I was able to guide, coach, and empathize during some difficult days. It was okay to advocate for health records to ensure a less stressful return to their home province, especially if they needed to visit another hospital before getting home.

My friend was an effective advocate; she has an amazing background as a savvy businesswoman who had been a CEO in her past career. No members of the health care team could waffle on answers to her questions and the spouse is doing well now, and that is a testament to how a loved one can be instrumental in leading the path, as a number of patients are not in a position to do that on their own.

I read an article on LinkedIn that suggested some structures and processes to patient care delivery that benefit the staff, but not the patients. Patient/family advisory committees/councils were not seen as wholly effective, and truly, the processes need to “be co-created,” ideally with survivors of patient care and family/individuals who can imagine what kind of care they actually want and need.

Power dynamics and a shopping list of challenges, such as racism, determinants of health, bureaucracy, equity, and who recalls your postal code, can determine your health status and mortality rate. All of these need to be considered in the present to alter the future–ideally for the good of all.

I was asked about my last post and my salute to Nightingale.. No individual is perfect, and I’m sure that Ms. Nightingale was far from ideal. She was successful in organizing nursing care, for the better or worse; it provided a respectable means of work for women who did not have a trade. Choosing the British Army as a model may have been the best option at the time, as we know all disciplines and professions need to be dynamic, responsive and self-aware. Ms. Nightingale engaged in epidemiology, the ability to learn from numbers and causation that translated into lives saved.

I hope the College will consider changing non-practicing to retired, those of us who worked hard to attain and fulfil the title RN it would be nice to have a thank you for your service. Namaste.

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Tagged as: health healthcare mental-health nurse nursing

Paula M

Retired Registered Nurse (Non-practicing) Storyteller, Healer, Scribe, Transformational Leader