Table Of ContentN-
Summer 1999 The newsletter for alumni and friends of the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
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and counting. On April 13, 1999, five
Faculty of Nursing students were
honoured with Gordon Cressy Student
Leadership Awards at The Great Hall at
Hart House. These soon-to-be nurses
were recognized with 128 other students
in their final year of studies from across
the University of Toronto. Gordon Cressy
himself was on hand to read the citations
for the Award-winning students, who
received their personalized, framed
certificates from J. Robert S. Prichard,
President of University of Toronto, and
Marta Escedi, President of the University
of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA).
As a member of many committees, Sherri Hill, Meredith Allin, Riffaat Mamdani and Mellanie Kant
Meredith Allin has provided a strong between the University of Toronto and enthusiasm and unassuming manner, she^
voice for nursing students in areas such the native community. also helped plan UofT Career Day for
as the selection of a new dean and faculty Nursing ’97 with alumni and assisted
policy development. Meredith is Vice- Whether through athletics, student with a career development workshop.
President of the Canadian Nursing government or volunteer service in the Sanna has served as Vice-President of the
Students’ Association and served as the health field, Mellanie Kant strives to Nursing Undergraduate Society and this
1997 President of the Nursing make a difference. She is a peer year she is Chair of the Faculty’s
Undergraduate Society. She is involved counsellor and educator with the Student GRADitude campaign.
in a number of initiatives promoting the Health Outreach program and makes
health and well-being of students, her health-related presentations to various Riffaat Mamdani is tirelessly committed
woik as a leader of the Student Health UofT student groups. As Social Director to making a difference in all dimensions
Outreach Group being a prime example. of the Nursing Undergraduate Society of student and community life. As a
and Chair of the Orientation Committee, training co-ordinator with Media Youth
As Social and Spiritual Representative of Mellanie has represented her nursing Link, she designed and implemented a
the Nursing Undergraduate Society, peers at national, provincial and local leadership training program for Toronto
Sherri Hill helps students understand the meetings. She also enjoys playing youth with underserviced backgrounds.
role of spirituality in healing. Her intramural volleyball and lacrosse. She has helped organize a women’s health
activities as an Anishnawbe Health street community outreach program and was a
patrol volunteer, together with her work As the 1996-97 student delegate to the student volunteer on Research Day.
on the UofT Lectureship Series on Registered Nurses’ Association of Riffaat has also volunteered in a rural
Aboriginal Wellness and Healing, have Ontario, Sanna Laitinen organized and community in Guyana as part of Youth
helped promote a positive relationship hosted RNAO-UofT Day. Valued for her Challenge International.
Dean’s Message: Change, You Say?
As I reflect on the last 11 years, the One of most popular programs is the ACNP (adult)]. The structure is still
theme that is inescapable throughout is acute care nurse practitioner relatively new but seems to be working
change. This is not unexpected: preparation, both adult and child, and well.
nursing has been subject to enormous we are a member of the ten-university
change, as has the health care system consortium that prepares primary care Time for Change
and the University over the last decade. nurse practitioners. Change has been the theme of the last 11
The Faculty of Nursing could not have years and it is now time for another
escaped these changes even if we had A hallmark of the Faculty over the last change: a new dean. We need a new dean
tried. ten years has been our ability to to lead us as we move into the new
respond to changes and to anticipate century and new millennium. It is hard
Change in Expectations the need for new programs. A good to imagine that the next 11 years can be
In 1988, the possibility of actually example is our MN/MBA to prepare as fraught with change as the last 11, but
requiring a BScN as entry to practice, the next generation of nurse executives. not only possibly, but probably, there will
of licensing primary care nurse be more change than ever before. The
practitioners and creating the role of Change in Research Productivity Faculty’s record is good when it comes
acute care nurse practitioners, of In 1988, the Faculty had about to handling change and I have no doubt
closing and merging many of the $200,000 in external research funding, that it will continue to anticipate and
longest-standing and most well- this year it is closer to $2 million. The thrive on change.
established hospitals, of having chairs true dimensions of this increase can
for nurse researchers, of having to only be appreciated when the fact that It has been my privilege and pleasure
actively recruit students into nursing to the sources of funding for nursing (at least most of the time) to have been
fill classes, of taking 15% out of the research have diminished over the years dean over the last exciting 11 years. I
University’s budget in one swift cut, and our Faculty has shrunk in size. look forward to working with our new
and of having a nursing shortage, a job Despite these challenges, our Faculty dean to make the Faculty better than
shortage for nurses and another nursing has more outstanding research ever.
shortage within the next 11 years scientists, those who are tops in their
seemed improbable if not impossible. fields, than any other faculty in Canada.
Yet all these things happened and they
have profoundly influenced the Faculty, Change in Resources
the University, the health care system Given the previous description of the
and society. program changes and the changes in
Funding News Flash
research productivity, it is hard to
Changes in Programs believe that we are about 25% smaller
One of the greatest impacts change has than we were in 1988. The cut to the On April 29, 1999, Ontario’s Minister
had is on the programs the Faculty University budget got transferred down of Health announced that the Nursing
offers. In 1988, our largest program to us and we have shrunk as a result. Effectiveness, Utilization and
was the 4-year BScN. Now we are While our numbers got smaller, our Outcomes Research Unit would receive
close to having phased it out and credentials have gotten better. Most one million dollars a year for several
replaced it with a 2-year, second entry Faculty members now have PhDs or years to undertake work on the nursing
BScN. The first class of students will are in the latter stages of getting them. workforce and the Nursing Task Force
graduate from this new program at Fall Furthermore, the standard is now recommendations.
Convocation 1999. We admitted about increasing to expect post-doctorates as
30 students a year into our MScN an entry credential for a Faculty The Co-Principal Investigators of the
program, all full-time. Since then we position. Unit are Linda-Lee O’Brien-Pallas
dropped the N from the degree (RN, PhD) and Andrea O. Baumann
designation, and then stopped Change in Organization (RN, PhD). O’Brien-Pallas (7T5,
admitting students to the program In 1988, the Faculty had a very simple 7T9) is an Associate Professor at UofT
entirely as we replaced it with an MN organizational structure: a dean and Laculty of Nursing and an Ontario
to which we admit about 90 students a two chairs. Now we have a dean, an Ministry of Health Career Scientist.
year, the majority of whom are part- associate dean for education and one Baumann is a Professor and Associate
time. Our first PhD student graduated for research and program directors for Dean of Health Sciences (Nursing), at
at Fall Convocation 1998 and three more each of our programs [4-year BScN, 2- McMaster University’s School of
will convocate in June. year BScN, MN/MBA, ACNP (Child), Nursing in Hamilton, Ontario.
2 *^itnl Connections
President’s Message: Reflections of Thanks
What is an Acute Care
Nurse Practitioner?
Four years ago, when I first took on the I will remember her as a great leader, a
role of President of the Nursing Alumni dedicated nurse, an enthusiastic
Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
Association, I was a little hesitant and educator and an accomplished
(ACNPs) have been practising in
uncertain as to what was expected of administrator.
Ontario for over 10 years and much
me and what to expect from the role.
longer than that in the USA. ACNPs
rFour years later I can say that this role So long and thanks for the challenges,
are graduate-prepared nurses who
has given me the chance to grow and and especially for the good times.
provide advanced nursing care across
develop, both personally and
the continuum of acute care services
professionally.
%>ca*tc4c
to patients and families who are acutely
or critically ill. This care may be
I have had the opportunity, through the
provided in a variety of settings and
years, to work with a great group of
dedicated professionals. Their Awards News Flash uses a collaborative model involving
patients, families, significant others,
commitment to their alma mater, to the
nurses, physicians and other health
students, and to nursing, fortified the
On March 3, 1999, the Faculty of
team members. ACNPs are best suited
Association and made my job easier. I
Nursing held its annual Awards
to provide care to populations of
want to thank them for their hard work
Reception at the Faculty Club.
patients who experience multiple,
and contributions to the Executive.
Approximately 52 students, from the
complex and interrelated health needs.
undergraduate and graduate programs,
I would also like to thank the many
were recognized for their academic
In response to the rising interest in and
students I have met for rekindling in me
achievements, in the company of their
need for ACNPs, the University of
the enthusiasm and dreams that I first
family, friends, fellow students, and
Toronto Faculty of Nursing has
had when I was a nursing student and a
members of the Faculty and staff.
introduced a new clinical option in the
new grad. In these turbulent times it
Master of Nursing (MN) Degree
was helpful to step back and remember
Dr. Gail J. Mitchell (8T8), Chief
program: the Acute Care Nurse
why I chose nursing as my career.
Nursing Officer at Sunnybrook and
Practitioner (Adult or Child Health).
Women's College Health Sciences
This option provides students with
Thanks are also due to the many people
Centre, was the guest speaker. The
academic and clinical preparation to
who, every year, support the
FNAA was proud to sponsor this
become ACNPs within the context of
Association, the Faculty and the
special event.
graduate education. Course work
students through their donations, by
includes Advanced Health Assessment
attending alumni events and through their
and Diagnostic Reasoning,
letters and phone calls.
Pathophysiological Concepts,
Research Day News Flash
Pharmacotherapeutics and The
No Association or President is
Advanced Practice Role. Additionally,
complete without someone to keep
students complete three clinical courses
them organized and remind them of the Nearly 300 nurses attended the
focusing on their population of interest
little (and sometimes big) things that Faculty’s annual Research Day
as well as the MN core courses. The
need to be done. Thanks, Francine, for conference, held on April 28, 1999. In
Master of Nursing degree can be
keeping me, and the FNAA, on track contrast to last year’s international
completed full time (four semesters)
and for all of your hard work. conference which was at the Metro
or part time.
Toronto Convention Centre, this year’s
Finally, I would like to thank Dean conference returned to its usual venue,
The ACNP role is challenging and
Dorothy Pringle for her support and the Medical Sciences Building on the
intriguing and is here to stay. This
encouragement many years ago when U of T campus.
new stream of the MN program
she first hired me as the Alumni
provides another professional
Liaison. As she ends her term as Dean, The FNAA sponsored the Nettie
development pathway that allows
I reflect on the many changes and Douglas Fidler Plenary Session, which
nurses to expand their knowledge and
innovations which she has brought to replaced the traditional keynote
skills, develop advanced nursing
the Faculty and to nursing. She has, address. Patricia McKeever, Jean
competencies and remain directly
over the last 11 years, strengthened Reeder and Shirlee Sharkey spoke on
involved in the care of patients and
nursing and nursing education through the topic of “Conducting Research in
families.
change, creativity and determination. Changing Practice Environments.”
^/itnl Connections ?
Jnique Centre Launched Editor’s Message New Nursing Scholarships
On March 30, 1999, the Home Care I will be on maternity leave from mid- Recently, the provincial government
Evaluation and Research Centre July, 1999, until January, 2000. As announce a new awards program, the
(HCERC) was launched at UofT. The such, '"yitnl Connections will next be Ontario Graduate Scholarships in Science
Centre, the first of its kind in Canada, published in the Spring of 2000. and Technology (OGSST). This is an
assembles a core group of While I am away, the Alumni innovative program where a donor’s gift
internationally recognized researchers, Association will carry on business, of $50,000 endows a named, graduate-
led by two co-directors: Dr. Patricia holding meetings, planning events, etc. level scholarship, providing a $15,000
McKeever of the Faculty of Nursing, student award every year in perpetuity.
and Dr. Peter Coyte of the Department Getting a head start on your millennium
of Health Administration in the Faculty reunion plans? U of T traditionally The Faculty of Nursing is delighted to
of Medicine. holds its campus-wide Spring Reunion announce the creation of two OGSST
events on the first Saturday in June. Awards, which have been established by
This innovative research centre will The Faculty will plan our event to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of
work to champion home care coincide with the University’s reunion Ontario and the Centre for Addiction and
evaluation and policy development, weekend. If tradition holds, pencil Mental Health. Thank you for supporting
foster a national network of quality Sunday, June 4, 2000, into your our graduate students.
home care researchers and disseminate calendar for our Faculty celebration.
findings broadly to all interested We hope to report on additional awards
stakeholders. Please contact the alumni office if you currently in the works in our next
would like assistance planning a class newsletter.
Public and private sector partners have reunion. We can provide you with a
contributed more than $1.2 million in current mailing list for your classmates
infrastructure funding over the next five (according to UofT’s database) as well
years. Approximately $1 million has as draft invitations, etc. You can reach
been raised through research granting the alumni office in the following ways:
agencies and foundations to support
specific research projects. HCERC’s 1) Leave a voice mail message on the
Connections
founding donors are Baxter alumni phone line, (416) 978-4786.
Corporation, Caremark Ltd., The Messages will be picked up and
... is published by the University of
Change Foundation, Comcare Health returned by alumni volunteers, Nursing
Toronto Faculty of Nursing Alumni
Services, the Heart and Stroke Faculty or staff, as appropriate. Association. The FNAA also supports
Foundation of Ontario, St. Elizabeth scholarships and programs for both alumni
Health Care, the Victorian Order of 2) Mail correspondence to the FNAA and students. These are made possible
Nurses of Canada, and We Care Home President (use address shown below). through your gifts to the University of
Health Services Inc. Toronto Nursing Annual Fund. Please
3) Fax correspondence to the FNAA consider becoming an annual contributor.
For more information, contact Ms. Jan President at (416) 978-8222.
Campbell, HCERC’s Executive
Photographs in this issue:
Director, at (416) 978-5627. Until next year,
Cover: Photography Babak
'P'KUtcitte
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| So, what are you up to?
New job? Just married? Won an award or written a book or anything else that former
classmates might be interested in? If so, please let us help you spread the news! Please bring us up-to-date by attaching
your Alumni News and Comments to this form then mail to the address shown below and we’ll try to publish it in the next
newsletter.
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i Address-
Telephone
Please check off as appropriate: O I would like to be the class representative for my year O This is my new address
O I am interested in volunteering with the FNAA O Attached is my News
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Mail to: Faculty of Nursing Alumni Association, University of Toronto, 50 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H4
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