Duteil reported that, by year’s end, the union is aiming to see personal protective devices available for all nurses, hands-on safety and security officers in hospitals, and federal legislation that would make an assault on a nurse an aggravating circumstance in sentencing, as it is now for transit operators.

“We of course remain united for safe patient care but now, more than ever we must be united for safe nurses,” she said.

Duteil concluded her address by announcing that BCNU would be calling for nurse-to-patient ratios when bargaining begins next year, and said that this kind of contract language is needed to truly address BC’s chronic nurse shortage and tackle the difficul-ties that come with providing safe patient care in facilities that are full to overcapacity.

BCNU members will be rallying in downtown Vancouver before returning home on Thursday.

Rise up for respect of our collective agreement rights! Rise up for safe, violence-free worksites! And rise up for ratios!” That was the message BC

Nurses’ Union President Gayle Duteil delivered to the more than 500 delegates and observers gathered in Vancouver this week for the union’s 36th annual convention.

After welcoming nurses from across BC, Duteil opened the event by reflecting on her three-year journey since being elected president of the union in 2014. She congratulated the many activists in the room on the collective bargaining wins the union achieved following ratification of the 2014-2019 Nurses’ Bargaining Association collective agreement.

Priming members for the next round of bargain-ing, Duteil promised that BCNU would continue to work for the benefit of all nurses – whether LPN, RN or RPN. She reminded delegates about the $37 million in damages that BCNU won and used to pay for 2016 college registration fees, and reported that the union would be fighting to have them covered for all nurses in future years. “The college protects the public. Why are nurses paying for those fees?” she asked.

Duteil updated delegates on the union’s prov-ince-wide violence-prevention campaign, and said nurses’ safety was a key issue throughout the recent provincial election campaign, with over 150 candidates from all three parties signing a BCNU candidate pledge vowing to promote violence-free workplaces for nurses.

STAT NEWS

The 2017 BCNU convention was called to order on Tuesday morning, but members from around BC gathered a day earlier in order to take in a day-long practice-focused conference featuring experts from across North America.

Monday’s education day featured keynote speaker and University of Alberta profes-sor Christy Raymond-Seniuk, who shared her experiences

advancing collaborative prac-tice models in her province while providing advice to nurses in BC. Raymond-Seniuk talked about how nursing contexts affect nurses’ ability to impact health outcomes, and stressed the importance of fostering affirmative envi-ronments through leadership and lifelong learning. She also shared her research on strat-egies for cultivating a strong

nursing future by strengthen-ing how we educate nurses

Dozens of student nurses from schools around the province had the opportu-nity to sit down with BCNU President Gayle Duteil and South Fraser Valley region co-chair Michelle Sordal and compare experiences over lunch during Monday’s Education Day. Duteil welcomed the group and explained the need for nurs-ing grads at a time when the province is dealing with a staffing crisis. The group also discussed the NCLEX exam and the challenges many student nurses are having as they work to complete this requirement.

BCNU’s Young Nurses’ Network also enjoyed a working lunch on Tuesday.

RISE UP! NURSES KICK OFF ANNUAL CONVENTION IN VANCOUVER

EDUCATION DAY

STUDENT NURSES MEET

WEDNESDAY MAY 17, 2017

CONVENTION 2017

GENERATIONAL EXCHANGE BCNU South Fraser Valley co-chair and council student liaison Michelle Sordal, Desiree Cosman, BCNU President Gayle Duteil, Stephanie McCusker, Candy Tran and Paula Stone.

WEATHERING THE STORM Nursing Leader Cynthia Vlasich spoke to delegates about the value of cultivating resilience throughout nurses’ careers.

Practice conference kicks off Convention 2017

1. University of Alberta professor Christy Raymond-Seniuk kicked off Monday’s education day sharing her experiences advancing collaborative practice models in her province and providing advice to nurses in BC. 2. Elyse Magee of the BC Centre on Substance Use talks to BCNU members on Monday about the shifting treatment paradigms surrounding opioid use disorder

I wanted to hear the candidates speak in person and listen to what each side had to say.

I wanted to see what the union is doing and what the plans are for the future – it’s been a good experi-ence so far.

DELEGATES’ VIEW

Why did you attend convention this year?

Lana WasylkiwKelowna General Hospital

Mervin EscanoRoyal Columbian Hospital

and by studying how nurses can best lead change in health systems.

Education day participants also attended breakout ses-sions on a variety of topical practice issues, from dementia care, to clinical management of opioid use disorder and social media use, among others.

The day wrapped up with an inspiring presentation from

Minnesota’s Cynthia Vlasich, who is Director of Education and Leadership at the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Vlasich used the metaphor of storms to describe the challenges nurses face throughout their careers, and how strength and resiliency can be cultivated in the most difficult of circum-stances. She asked participants

to never forget the real reason they go to work every day, and noted that resiliency – the abil-ity to bend and not break – is a common trait in nurses. Vlasich also shared her work on the Nurses on Boards Coalition in the US as an example of a model that helps nurses lever-age their inherent leadership skills to effect change beyond the health care setting.

and the implications for nursing practice. 3. BCNU South Fraser Valley region’s Engel Soliva receives information from BC Pension Corp’s Sandy Robilliardi. 4. BCNU South Islands region member Ken Giles chats with Vancouver Island University nursing students Tanys Latham (l) and Serena Gaiga (r). Both students presented their community

2 3

placement research project on climate change as a determinant of health during Monday’s education day. 5. North East region’s Jackie Nault sells 50-50 draw tickets to Pacific Rim region’s Rick Carlson. 6. Coastal Mountain region delegates get settled in. From left: Rose Tariga, Carol Nakano, Dan Desmarais and Jose Seva.

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CONVENTION 2017 POSTCARDS

EDUCATION DAY CONTINUES

NEW! BCNU ANNUAL REPORT 2016

BCNU’s Annual Report has gone digital. Now you can access a dynamic and responsive new version of the annual report, complete with member stories and leadership profiles that tell the story of our union. Visit annualreport.bcnu.org

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE BCNU’s Aboriginal Leadership Circle met on Tuesday to share ways to connect with and support Aboriginal nurses and to continue their outreach to communities. Back row (l-r): Glynis Wilson (BCNU staff), Lori Pearson (BCNU Council Liaison), North East region’s Leona Clark, West Kootenay region’s Erin Roulette, Simon Fraser region’s Lisa Noel, Simon Fraser region’s Sherry Ridsdale, Pacific Rim region’s Charlene Emes-Copley, South Fraser Valley region’s Alison Stockbrocks and RIVA region’s Michael Scott. Front row (l-r): Thompson North Okanagan region’s June Shackley, ALC chair Diane Lingren, JB the First Lady and Okanangan-Similkameen region’s Miranda Haupt.