BROCKVILLE GENERAL HOSPITAL

Healthy People ~ Outstanding Care

NEWS RELEASE

For Release Monday, May 11, 2009

Brockville General Hospital celebrates Nursing Week May 11-17

Local nurses reflect on what has changed in their profession during past 30 years

BROCKVILLE – Brockville General Hospital is celebrating National Nursing Week May 11-17 and thanking its 293 nurses, who are a vital part of today’s health-care system.

BGH has 204 Registered Nurses, one Registered Nurse Practitioner and 88 Registered Practical Nurses who work in a variety of departments.

Anne Howison, a complex care and palliative care nurse at BGH’s Garden Street Site, has worked as an RN for 36 years. She says there have been many changes over the years, including changes in technology, medications and more collaboration with families.

Brockville General Hospital now has computers on wheels for nurses, allowing them to chart patient information using the latest technology.

Another change is that patients have more information from the Internet and “advocate a lot for their families,” Ms. Howison notes.

“But some things are still the same,” she adds. “The reason for being a nurse has not changed: I think nurses are naturally caring people.”

Anne Rodger, Director of Surgical and Maternal/Child Care at BGH, has seen many changes in the past 33 years. “The pace is a lot faster. We are doing a lot more surgery as day surgery, and patients are going home to recuperate.”

Casey Johnson, who started working as an RN six years ago, is both a nurse and a nurse educator. She chose nursing as a career because she was interested in physiology and likes working with people.

“I enjoy the constant learning and every-day challenges,” she says.

“You learn so much from patients,” she adds. “And I get invited to join them in the highest of highs, such as the birth of a child, and the private moments, such as death. That’s a privilege.”

During Nursing Week, BGH nurses will be invited to attend presentations by Bernadette MacDonald, BGH Vice-President Clinical Services/Chief Nursing Executive, and Melissa Dougherty, Queensway Carleton Hospital’s Director, Nursing Professional Practice and Childbirth.

Nurses will also be able to enjoy events including a pancake breakfast donated by physicians and other celebrations that will give them a break from the work they do at the hospital for everyone in the community.

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BGH nurses work in a collaborative environment with other health professionals. From left are Charge Nurse Wilda Madden, Dr. Ambrose Au and Discharge Planner Robin TeKamp.

 

RN Debbie MacDonald helps treat patient Linda Fancy at Brockville General Hospital.

 

RN Casey Johnson works as both a nurse and nurse educator and says it’s a privilege to work with patients.

 

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