Consensus of workplace factors for staff retention in long-term care: A Delphi study
Presenter:
Dr. Winnie Sun completed her PhD in Nursing and collaborative graduate program in Health Services and Policy Research at the University of Toronto. She is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Ontario Tech University and holds a research appointment as the Co-Research Director of the Advancement in Dementia Care Centre (ADCC), collaboration between Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, in Ontario Canada. In 2024, Dr. Sun received the Research Excellence Chair Award from Ontario Tech University where she is leading the development of technology-enabled innovations to promote healthy aging and dementia care.
RPN Leaders’ Experiences Responding to Workplace Violence and Harassment in Home and Community Care
Presenter:
Sonia Nizzer is a Senior Research Associate & Mental Health Research Lead at VHA Home HealthCare. She is a registered social worker and holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Windsor. As a qualitative home care researcher, she seeks to understand the intersection of work and wellbeing amongst the home and community care workforce. Her passions lie in addressing work precarity, occupational health and safety, and the inclusion of participatory action research approaches.
Data informed, goal oriented transitional care
Presenter:
Lisa Herron is a proud WeRPN member and point-of-care nurse in SE Health’s Acute Care Transitions Program, having been engaged since the first pilot program. Over the years Lisa has been involved in numerous quality improvement initiatives including the initial design and implementation of interRAI instruments into transitional care programs at SE Health. New to research, Lisa is passionate about its role in bridging health system gaps and enhancing care for Canadians
Enhancing Stroke Rehabilitation Interdisciplinary Teams: Exploring Rehabilitation Nursing Practices and Perspectives
Presenter:
Dr. Eric Tanlaka is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Windsor. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Viterbo University, a Master of Science in Nursing at Winona State University, and a PhD in Nursing at the University of Calgary. Dr. Tanlaka has great expertise and interest in the areas of neuroscience nursing, stroke rehabilitation care, and philosophy and theories in nursing research.
One Year, Countless Lessons: My Journey Through a Research Fellowship
Presenter:
Attila Kovacs is a dedicated healthcare professional and researcher with a unique blend of expertise in nursing, engineering, and education. He is a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with the College of Nurses of Ontario and recently completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Ontario Tech University. Attila is committed to advancing his knowledge and impact in the healthcare field. His research focuses on improving care in long-term care settings, with key contributions to projects addressing dementia care, palliative care education, and mental health resilience in healthcare teams.
Emotional Model of Care Project: Literature review of Existing Evidence related to the Concepts of Compassionate Care and Person-Centered Care Approach in Long-Term Care (LTC)
Presenter:
Oghenefegor Uwejeya was a recipient of the WeRPN Research Fellowship Award for 2024-2025. As a nurse in Ontario, she is dually licensed as both a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), and a Registered Nurse (RN). She stays true to her nursing roots as an RPN via engagement in RPN related research, even in her current practice as an RN at the bedside. Oghenefegor’s fellowship experience is one that she will always be grateful for. This experience inspired her to pursue graduate studies in Master of Science in Nursing at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing: At a Glace
Presenter:
Kimberly Reid is an RPN, certified in occupational health with over 19 years of experience in emergency nursing and LTC. Before joining WeRPN Kimberly worked in one of the busiest emergency rooms in the GTA and later ventured into leadership as the Operations Leader of a large health network in Toronto. Currently, Kimberly is the Program Manager for our BEGIN Program and she leads a team of case managers to assist PSWs and RPNs ladder their careers.
Nurses’ contributions to “getting them better” in rehabilitation units: a case in Canada
Presenter:
Dr. Denise Connelly is a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University. Her program of research engages with community partners to address the nursing workforce shortage in the long-term care and home and community care sectors. Professor Connelly’s research contributes to building the nursing workforce through nurse career-bridging initiatives, recruitment and retention of new nurse graduates, resilience in nurses, and inclusion of family/care partners with health professionals in the provision of care for older adults.
Confronting Anti-Black Racism: Advancing Equity and Supporting Black RPNs in Healthcare Practice
Presenter:
Dr. Nadia Prendergast is a registered nurse with a background in perinatal education and community health nursing. Born in England, she completed her nursing degree in England and moved to Canada where she completed her master’s and PhD in Education and Women’s Studies, focusing on health professionals and the experiences of international nurses of colour.
RPNs and Role Clarity: A qualitative study of the lived experience of RPNs and interprofessional collaboration in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital
Presenter:
Natalie Weiser is a Research Coordinator III at Unity Health Toronto. Natalie specializes in practice-based and health services research. In her role on the Interprofessional Practice Based Research (IPBR) team, she supports and empowers frontline clinicians such as nurses and allied health professionals to lead and participate in research that improves patient care. She guides practice-based research projects by helping develop research questions, design studies, and collect and analyze data. Natalie plays a key role in translating research into practice, engaging patients and communities in the research process, and strengthening the hospital’s research culture.
Registered Practical Nurses’ Knowledge and Experience with Post Stroke Spasticity in Long Term Care
Presenter:
Jennifer Walker is an RPN in LTC, and a recipient of the 2024 RPN Research Fellowship. Her project investigates RPNs’ understanding of spasticity, the impact of caring for residents with post stroke spasticity on their workload and well-being, and the barriers they encounter in advocating for specialized care. As a research Fellow, Jennifer has contributed to the study protocol, incorporating her knowledge of the LTC home to ensure the research aligns with current policies and procedures. She has contributed to the development of study materials, including data collection instruments. She describes the fellowship as a “great learning experience”. She shared that she is gaining better sense of how research can shape and influence decisions in healthcare and looks forward to diving deeper into the practical side research in the next phases of the project.
Priorities for psychological health and safety workforce retention in long-term care: Insights from leaders
Presenter:
Jen Calver is Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with a CNA certification in gerontological R/LPN nursing. She holds a Master of Health Sciences Degree from Ontario Tech University. After working several years in direct care and nursing roles, Jen is a passionate advocate for the health workforce and care of older adults. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. She also manages and provides oversight to the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN) research department to increase research evidence related to RPNs in Ontario, and support RPNs to build research capacity and capability.
Building a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Long-Term Care Home: Helping Each Other Thrive, Marilyn Oliver, WeRPN
Presenter:
Marilyn Oliver is an accomplished Registered Practical Nurse with a career spanning home and community care, complex care, acute care, and nursing education. Since graduating in 2010, she has brought her expertise to both front-line practice and educational leadership, including teaching in the Personal Support Worker program at GTA College. In 2022, Marilyn joined WeRPN as a Case Manager in the BEGIN program, and in 2023 transitioned to the Professional Practice department, where she supports the development of practice education and provides resources for RPNs across Ontario.
Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Educational Studies from Ontario Tech University, specializing in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), and is currently pursuing a Master of Education degree. Her work is grounded in advancing inclusivity and empowering nurses to thrive in diverse, collaborative environments.
Research Communications for RPNs – Building RPN research literacy
Presenter:
Sarah Morrissette is in her final year of the Health Services Management degree at Toronto Metropolitan University and is completing her capstone project with WeRPN. She began her career as a Registered Practical Nurse in women’s and Indigenous health. Since leaving nursing, she has worked in an administrative capacity, using her knowledge and experience to support systems level change in Indigenous health, wellness, and education.
Evaluating how WeRPN’s communication channels (social media, newsletters, emails) engage both member and non-member RPNs
Presenter:
Suad Hersi, RPN is a Registered Practical Nurse with over 5 years of frontline clinical experience. She currently works in the psychiatric emergency department at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and is completing her Bachelor of Health Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her practicum with the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN) focuses on evaluating communication strategies to strengthen engagement among RPNs across Ontario. Suad brings a strong background in mental health and is passionate about quality improvement and driving meaningful changes within Ontario’s dynamic healthcare system.