Newsletter - Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest ...

RNANT/NU Newsletter - Spring 2009 Page 15
BE THE CHANGE!
Elissa Sakariassen
CNA 199 is a photo of students and faculty in front of Larga Baffin Home.
These words were echoed throughout the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Biennial Convention and Centennial
Celebration. WOW! has nursing seen changes. 14 Nunavut Arctic College nursing students and two faculty members
attended the events organized in Ottawa in June 2008. They represented Nunavut Arctic College, northern nurses, student
nurses and Inuit culture. There was much appreciation from attendees and organizers to have such a wonderful student
and northern representation.
The opening ceremonies began with a bang including a photo tribute to 100 years of the CNA in Canada and a special
tribute song from President Smadu’s children that highlighted the essence of nursing in a variety of languages and Canadian
‘accents’ from coast to coast to coast. At the exhibits, students were able to speak with representatives from other provincial
or territorial nursing associations, colleges and universities, pharmaceutical, medical supply and textbook companies and
other organizations that have a special interest in nursing such as the Canadian Nurses Protective Society.
Keynote and plenary speakers were informative and entertaining. General Rick Hillier opened Tuesday’s activities by
“drawing a crowd”. And did he ever! More than 1200 nurses were in attendance to hear his opening words about himself,
the Canadian Forces and the relationship with nursing. Dr. Linda Duxbury gave a fabulous presentation, “The Future is
Now: Realities of the 21st Century Workplace”. She highlighted key issues of workload, overload, labour shortages and
generational differences that caused many nods of agreement and chuckles as we realized how true these changes and
differences are. Wednesday’s speakers were no less entertaining or inspiring. Roberta Jamieson, president and CEO of the
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, gave words of inspiration about her own life and the potential of Aboriginal
peoples in the workplace. The closing speaker could not have been more suitably chosen. Barbara Fry entertained us
with her stories about the changes in practice settings, differing generational and personal values and how these affect
workplace relationships. “Thriving vs. Surviving in the Workplace: What’s the Difference?” was an exercise in self reflection
that allowed us to examine our own attitudes and behaviours and how we can choose attitudes and behaviours that
inspire collaboration and demonstrate respect.