Dr. Andrew Jameton, the University of Nebraska professor who literally wrote the book on professional nursing with his Nursing Practice: The Ethical Issues in 1984, was one of the first to recognize the problem of moral distress among professional nurses.
The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO) is committed to supporting excellence in healthcare. Today, RPNAO was very encouraged by the release of the Long Term Care Home Public Inquiry Final Report and the recommended actions put forward by Commissioner Gillese.
Nurses are not immune to mental health and addictions; while they actively support patients and families with mental health and addictions in their daily practice we know that some nurses may also need support.
More than anyone else, patients and their families know the expertise, skill and compassion Registered Practical Nurses bring to the bedside every single day. RPNs are at the heart of any care team, working closely and collaboratively with other nurses, personal support workers, allied health professionals, and doctors.
The Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System has a mandate is to inquire into the circumstances that allowed Elizabeth Wettlaufer, a former Registered Nurse, to commit eight murders, four attempted murders, and two aggravated assaults while working in Ontario’s long-term care homes.
