Celebrating National Nursing Week: May 10 -16
This week we celebrate the important contributions that our RNs and RPNs have made and continue to make to our organization.
“We would like to use this opportunity to say THANK YOU to the entire CSS team for their unity and rising to the occasion during these unusual times,” say Client Services managers Johanne Loughrey and Anna Kornits. “The CSS team has exhibited their hard work and dedication by supporting their peers and PSWs, working longer days at times, managing stressful COVID-19 situations while continuing a modified version of their typical duties. Each of their contributions to the team is tremendous and invaluable!”
We would also like to acknowledge our RNs/RPNs who work in other roles within our organization, including management. Thank you to all our nurses!
During the pandemic, our nurses are providing coaching and support to PSWs working in COVID-positive environments.
CSS Dionne Jacobs shares her story of nursing during the pandemic:
It was on a late Friday evening at the beginning of April when we were initially alerted to the fact that one of the retirement homes that we support was experiencing one of the first outbreaks of COVID-19 in a congregate care setting.
Our nursing on-call team immediately initiated our Risk and Safety protocol and over the course of the weekend, we reached out to our personal support workers (PSWs) who were providing care at the retirement home to provide them with emotional support. We wanted them to feel both safe and comfortable, and to be able to ask us any questions they had.
We also ensured that they had proper knowledge around the precautions they should take, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and getting tested to verify that they had not been infected. I am so proud of the PSWs who have remained at the facility to continue to provide service to the clients under our care. This is a testament to not only their dedication and commitment to the people they care for, but to their trust in the training and support we have provided for them, that they felt comfortable enough to continue to provide care during such a challenging time.
As we move forward, the one-on-one coaching and check-ins will continue between PSWs and their supervisors, because we are a team and we will be getting through this together.
During the pandemic, our nurses are staying educated on best practices around protecting our employees on the job.
Professional Practice Lead Reeshma Harripersad shares her story of nursing during the pandemic:
From the beginning of the pandemic – long before it was even declared a pandemic – we were diligent about following Public Health, the Government of Canada and the College of Nurses as credible sources for current and accurate information on COVID-19. This helped us to proactively promote the safety of our PSWs and other employees who work with vulnerable populations and/or in a COVID-positive environment.
Beyond keeping up-to-date with government and industry expert guidelines, my role is to participate in IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) meetings with other organizations so that we can exchange ideas, share new information, and gather feedback about COVID-related Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) within the organizations. We discuss common misconceptions that our employees and clients may have and how to address them, as well as what measures are appropriate for frontline workers.
As COVID-19 cases increased across the city and province, PPE became less available across Ontario, including shortages at our own organization. As a result, we had to be very thoughtful about how we distributed supplies to our PSWs to ensure that they had what they needed and that we, additionally, didn’t run out of supplies.
I helped to devise effective guidelines for distributing PPE and a means to track distribution. I worked closely with our Supplies team and my peer Client Services Supervisor Olisa to provide support and guidance regarding questions and concerns about the required PPE for COVID-19 and to verify the quality of the stock on hand before it was distributed to our PSWs.
During the pandemic, we’re reaching out to our clients to ensure they have the help they need during this challenging time.
CSS Jeri Mae Janer shares her story of nursing during the pandemic:
Nursing comes in different shapes and forms, and that has never been more true than in these unprecedented times.
During this pandemic, I have spent many hours on the phone speaking to our clients in the community. Over the last month, my phone conversations have changed from being strictly assessment-focused to being lengthy conversations where listening, teaching, mediating and assuring are just as important as getting the assessment done.
Many clients have shared that my phone calls have provided them with the confidence that they are cared for and the assurance that they have access to help when they need it. I have heard from my fellow Client Service Supervisors that their clients feel the same way.
While we are not currently conducting assessments in-person at this time, we know that the work we are doing is important, and that we are still able to support our clients so that they can continue to live independently at home!
Tuesday is PSW Day!
We want to thank all of our PSWs who submitted photos of themselves along with their answer to the prompt “I am proud to be a PSW because…” We look forward to sharing all of your inspirational answers and beautiful photos on Tuesday!
Champions of Care Nominations
- “I would like to say thanks to CSSs Dionne Jacobs, Shirley Barnes, Sylvia McCallum, and Margaryta Tsygankova for volunteering to support a caseload outside of their own without hesitation. Qualities such as kindness and camaraderie deserves to be recognized. Thank you!” – Reeshma Harripersad
- “CSS Lina Deich enthusiastically agreed to provide an overview of our Holocaust Survivor Services to our new CSS. Lina D took the time to share useful documents, review and explain each document and facilitated a better understanding of the program. Thank you Lina D for your attention to detail and willingness to help!” – Reeshma Harripersad
- “It’s very simple! It has been a very very long time since I dealt with someone who has unprecedented work ethic and goes above and beyond her job responsibilities. Julia Szpytka does just that. In a short time that I dealt with Julia, I have always been amazed at the level of help that she always provided me and continues to provide me in dealing with my sick elderly parents. Her level of service is unprecedented, her response time is unprecedented and her care and devotion is unprecedented. I can’t thank and praise Julia enough. It’s really a pleasure dealing with Julia!!!! I’m so thankful she is my parent’s case manager.” – Client’s family member
- “Over the past eight weeks Alla Sorokosh has worked double duty in supporting transportation and the call centre. When asked if she could help out in the call centre she did not hesitate. She was eager to help whichever way possible. When transportation work force was reduced to one scheduler again she took this responsibility like a champ. She’s been working diligently ensuring client rides are booked and scheduled. She’s learned to assign drivers and runs so that drivers can perform the rides listed for the day. In the past two months she’s learned so much and continues to contribute and support the department with her professionalism, patience, kindness and grace. Alla, thank you for your dedication and hard work.” – Maria Campo
- “CSS Tara Stickwood is the newest member of the CSS team who came onboard 3 weeks ago. Tara does not hesitate to take on new challenges and is enthusiastic to take on a caseload of her own. Your professionalism, critical thinking skills and leadership is evident! Thank you for all the great work you have already done and continue to do!” – Reeshma Harripersad
- “CSS Olisa Obiozor has been working at our head office daily providing unwavering support to the Admin team, the PSWs and CSS team through quality control inspection of the PPE supplies in stock. CSS Olisa tests the functionality of PPE items to ensure that it is appropriate for use by our PSWs and provides valuable feedback for improvement. Thank you Olisa for the great work you do!” – Reeshma Harripersad