Professor Kathryn Pfaff leads the Health and Wellness Friendly Communities project.
The 2024 Great Lakes Biennial Nursing Conference attracted over 100 attendees, showcased 40 health care presentations and posters, and featured Indigenous Research Chair and guest speaker, Dr. Holly Graham.
Over 100 guests attended the Great Lakes Biennial Nursing Conference, held on Nov. 23 at University of Windsor’s Vanier Hall.
Keynote speaker Holly Graham highlighted the impact of racism on the health outcomes of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, and provided a practical approach to addressing racism in the health care setting utilizing her “CPR RACISM toolkit.”
Stacey Nahdee, First Nations Cultural Practitioner, began the conference with a traditional ceremonial opening to welcome an audience comprised of students, alumni, former faculty members, researchers, clinicians, health-care associations, and members of other universities and colleges.
Dr. Graham’s knowledge and experience provided a glimpse of the realities of health care challenges affecting Indigenous peoples. She stressed the importance of acting with kindness and with an anti-racism approach. Graham offered pragmatic solutions, engaged in a captivating Q-and-A session, and shared tips on addressing racism in the workplace.
Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Debbie Sheppard-LeMoine, praised Graham’s wisdom and research strategies and emphasized how it will benefit UWindsor’s path moving forward relative to Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations for the faculty’s nursing programs.
A soothing break in the conference was provided by students from the massage and hydrotherapy program from the Canadian College of Health Science & Technology. Suffice it to say, the free massage sessions were a hit.
Throughout the event, over 40 oral presentations and research posters spread over multiple rooms covered such topics as:
“One presentation that stood out for me was 'Influencing Outcomes through an Evidence-Based Nurse-Driven Telemetry Discontinuation Protocol'," says BScN student Sedat Karabulut. "It showcased a real-world example of integrating technology into nursing practice and how healthcare and nursing are rapidly evolving through those tech advancements."
The conference’s People’s Choice Awards winning posters for the Best Undergraduate Student Poster belonged to "Mental Health Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Neglect and Maltreatment in Canadians" by Dami Babs-Olorunfemi, Maggie Zhu, and Chisom Jennifer Obiora, while the Best Graduate Student Presentation was awarded to "Social Support of Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Restrictions" by Natalie Sykora.
Based on the success of the event, conference chair and UWindsor associate professor of nursing, Jody Ralph, is looking forward to the next event in two years.
2024Indigenous Health CareConference
Over 100 guests attended the Great Lakes Biennial Nursing Conference, held on Nov. 23 at University of Windsor’s Vanier Hall.
Keynote speaker Holly Graham highlighted the impact of racism on the health outcomes of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, and provided a practical approach to addressing racism in the health care setting utilizing her “CPR RACISM toolkit.”
The Faculty of Nursing will host the Great Lakes Biennial Nursing Conference on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Keynote speaker Holly Graham will discuss the role of racism, its negative impact on health outcomes of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, and how it creates barriers to equitable health care in an address at the Great Lakes Biennial Nursing Conference, Nov. 23 at the University of Windsor.
Hosted by Faculty of Nursing, the regional conference focuses on areas surrounding key health care issues, trends, and advancements in the nursing profession.
Dr. Graham is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan and a member of the Thunderchild First Nation.
The conference, held every two years, brings together nursing and medical professionals, health-care leaders, educators, researchers, clinicians, students, and alumni. Attendees can network and interact with more than 40 oral and poster presenters.
It is an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share research findings, and discuss nursing best practices, says conference chair Jody Ralph, associate professor of nursing.
“We’re very excited to have this conference back in person,” she says. “It’s an excellent platform because it explores how evidence-based practice can enhance patient care, impact decision-making, and address current challenges in nursing. Dr. Graham’s presentation will be a great example of that.”
Bev Jacobs, UWindsor senior advisor to the president on Indigenous relations and outreach, understands the impact of dialogue and awareness to improve health care for equity deserving groups.
“Conferences like these are vital because they highlight a main component of the healing process, and that is re-establishing trust between FNMI Peoples and health care providers and institutions,” say Dr. Jacobs.
The conference will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Vanier Hall.
View conference details and register today.
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Sylwia Borawski works with a medical mannequin in the simulation lab of the Health Education Centre.
Sylwia Borawski knows what it feels like to be a patient.
At age 13, she received a life-altering diagnosis — Type 1 diabetes.
Among the chaos of the bustling emergency room where she would spend days clouded with confusion as she learned the details of her new diagnosis, one moment of compassionate care stands out to Borawski, helping to shape her own future as a caregiver.
“On the night of my diagnosis, an ER nurse took the time to sit with me and my family. Despite the commotion of the busy emergency room, she patiently walked us through everything,” Borawski recalled.
“I remember she used a surgical marker to draw diagrams on the bed sheet, illustrating how my sugar levels would fluctuate and why insulin was necessary.
“You don’t expect someone to take that time — but she did.”
From patient to caregiverNow working as an emergency room nurse at Henry Ford Hospital in Dearborn, Mich. after graduating from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing in 2023, Borawski said that experience opened her eyes to the key role of nurses, and how vital they are to a patient’s experience during frightening, or uncertain times.
“I try to create those little moments among the chaos in my own ER,” she said. “I think it’s come full circle that way. It really makes you appreciate what patients are going through.”
Her personal experience, coupled with an early interest in science, drove her journey toward a career in nursing. As a first-generation student who was born and raised in Windsor, it was important to her to stay close to home.
Borawski visited the University of Windsor with her family and liked what she saw on campus. She was excited about the program, particularly its smaller clinical groups and first-year involvement in a hospital setting.
“When we go into a clinical setting there’s eight students to one instructor,” she explained. “And at a lot of institutions that’s not the case. So having that more individualized experience was extremely helpful.”
Experience that Borawski credits as key to getting comfortable in a busy, patient-focused environment.
“Looking back, I didn’t know exactly what I would need from my learning,” she reflected.
“But I’ve come to realize the most crucial piece for me was that clinical time. There is only so much theory that you can stomach before you are looking for that hands-on experience to apply what you have learned.”
Lessons learned in research and practiceDuring her undergraduate studies, Borawski dove headfirst into research and applied for the University’s Outstanding Scholars program, which offers students paid opportunities outside the classroom to work for faculty members on their research.
“I feel that working in research was such a unique experience, and it helped me to gain a deeper understanding of just how important evidence-based practice is,” she said. “Contributing to evidence that can then be applied to practice was essential to my journey as an undergraduate student.”
Exploring a variety of subjects, Borawski contributed to five peer-reviewed publications alongside an all-female research team investigating nurse practitioner opioid prescribing and safety measure utilization in Ontario.
This involved a mixed-method study, and when she joined, the team was analyzing survey results and moving into qualitative interviews, granting Borawski the opportunity to engage with nurse practitioners across the province.
“We had some interesting insights as to why certain safety measures are used, why certain opioids were utilized more often, what nurse practitioners feel still needs improvements, in terms of enforcing safety measures, what they felt was effective versus ineffective,” she explained.
From there, Borawski branched out to work on her own publication. Like many, her learning experience was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided to use her voice to speak to the experience of student nurses during those uncertain times.
In 2020, when much of the world was under lockdown and hospitals were overburdened by outbreaks, the first roll-out of vaccines had limited supply and was offered only to essential workers, including nursing staff — leaving out student supporters, despite their involvement in clinicals each week and their close work with patients completing regular assessments and administering medications.
“I wrote a commentary for Canadian Nurse discussing that experience,” she said. “Then, I transitioned back to researching nurse practitioner practice and patient presentation in Ontario, particularly considering the changes brought on by COVID-19. Interviews with nurses and nurse practitioners across the province told us about significant challenges, including delays in care, patients’ reluctance to seek medical attention, and instances of more advanced disease presentations.”
Borawski said this experience opened her eyes to the many opportunities she could explore with her nursing degree, and the vital role research plays in patient care.
“High-quality evidence such as randomized control trials or systematic reviews will give us information about what we should be doing and about what promotes the best positive patient outcomes and what promotes any negative outcome,” she said. “You need that evidence to guide you in your everyday practice.”
Facilities in the Faculty of Nursing enable students to gain understanding of clinical settings.
Embracing leadership and community engagementAfter graduating from the program with a wealth of experience under her belt, Borawski still wasn’t finished with her learning journey. She decided to continue her studies and work toward her master’s degree, this time with more of a practical, clinical focus.
“In my final year, I took on the role of a peer mentor in the lab, which was a fantastic experience. I loved guiding fellow students, and this experience inspired me to pursue a master’s degree to hopefully secure a teaching or leadership position down the line,” she said.
Borawski is now involved in the Graduate Nursing Society, where she takes part in local events in an effort to give back to the community, and works as a mentor for undergraduate students, in addition to her job at the hospital.
“I believe it’s important not only to focus on professional development and theoretical learning, but also to recognize the value of engaging with and becoming an active member of your community, contributing in a positive way to improve the lives of others,” she said.
Borawski’s face lights up when she talks about that contribution, and her work in the ER. Among the day-to-day commotion, and through some tougher moments, she said her connections with patients and their families help her recognize the meaningful difference she makes each day.
“We’ve had a few scares with some very young kids lately with cold and flu season, and when they first come in due to some trouble breathing, they may be in a code situation or the resuscitation area and hearing from parents when they see their child is slowly getting better is really impactful.
“I have had patients tell me at the end of it, ‘I’ve never had a nurse take care of me the way you have.’”
The pandemic placed a spotlight on the significant part nurses play in our health-care system, with “health-care hero” signs and community members banging pots and pans on their porches to show their appreciation to the essential workers — a recognition Borawski feels was long overdue.
“When you’re a nurse you never really clock out,” she said. “I will have neighbours, family members, and friends reaching out to me and asking me questions about their health, or opinions based on what their doctor said. So even outside the hospital, there is such a broad scope of what we do in the community.”
Nurses are often the closest person to the patient when it comes to discussions about their health, Borawski said. With regular communication and check-ins, patients often feel more comfortable asking questions when a nurse is around.
“I think the best way I can describe it is we’re just that constant presence for patients, someone who cares.”
Graduate StudentGraduate Programs2024The Cardiac Wellness Program helps participants adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle.
We have been offering a lecture series titled “Intentional Conversations : Learning Our Talk” over the past several semesters. Inspired by the book “I’m Finding My Talk” by Rebecca Thomas, we are building a deeper understanding of our shifting roles as nursing faculty who engage daily with each other, students and our communities. We aspire to integrate the conversations in meaningful ways that truly elevate our work with all of our students and with our engagement within our communities of practice.
Our journey began with a “Blanket Exercise” in October 2022 led by Indigenous leaders and with the goal to build self understanding about our shared history as people in Canada ever mindful of the vision of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Working with blankets that represent the land and the historical connections and roles of First Nations, Inuit and later Metis peoples, this exercise builds empathy and education by engaging participants in their own personal, emotional and intellectual level.
Building research capacity at UWindsor Faculty of Nursing is a vital priority to ensure we continue to influence, through evidence practices, policies and health care system change that promotes the best health outcomes for our communities and society. Research was the focus of our second lecture in March 2023 and featured Dr. Nancy Edwards, professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, CIHR leader and author of several publications, most recently of Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Edwards shared both her clinical and research interests in the fields of public and population health. She discussed the role that health services, policy, and clinical research had in informing the design and evaluation of multi-level and multi-strategy community health programs.
Our third session in October 2023 focussed on Nursing’s Impact within the Healthcare Landscape. We hosted Chief Nursing Officer for Canada, Dr. Leigh Chapman and chief nurse of the International Council of Nurses, Dr. Michelle Acorn. They shared their respective roles in stabilizing the nursing workforce and contributing to Canada’s health policy, offering strategic advice from a nursing perspective to Canada’s health portfolio. Ms. Chapman’s talk highlighted the need to harmonize recruitment and integration of internationally educated nurses in Canada, advancing labour mobility for nurses working between provinces, and improving workforce planning data. She encouraged nursing students, front-line workers, administrators, senior leadership, and government officials to address nursing retention and enact change.
Dr. Acorn emphasized the significance of education in meeting or surpassing quality standards and aligning them with population health needs. She acknowledged the demand for nursing recruitment and retention programs to combat the global workforce shortage, while also advocating for safe and supportive service delivery environments for nurses. She specifically encouraged women within the global health workforce to assume a more prominent role in leadership positions.
Most recently, in our 4th conversation, Dr. Bukola Salami spoke about Leadership and Mentorship for Black and Racialized Students at a lecture in June 2024. She encouraged racialized individuals to set a positive mindset and tone, manage their mental health and create a network of mentors and trusted colleagues. She emphasized the importance of being open when opportunities come, prioritizing one’s time and the value of leading grant-writing and research publications for professional growth, policy influence, collaborative opportunities, and professional responsibility.
These conversations have accelerated our growth and understanding of important topics in Nursing. We hope you will be on the lookout for future sessions and join us!
Intentional Conversations Speaker SeriesMeet Madison Broadbent. Madison is pursuing her PhD in Nursing, thanks to her passion for academia that started while she was a nursing undergraduate student at University of Windsor.
Broadbent (BScN 2019) credits many mentors who provided her and her peers the inspiration that positively impacted their academic journeys. Madison is excited to complete her PhD to become an educator, inspire the next generation of nursing students, and influence clinical practice.
Broadbent’s PhD research focuses on women’s health, specifically on childbirth experiences of women who have histories of gender-based violence. Having this knowledge is important for Broadbent; she is also a front-line nurse in the Family Birthing Centre at Windsor Regional Hospital. As an RN, she believes that having a better understanding of women’s childbirth experiences who have histories of gender-based violence is valuable in providing compassionate and trauma-informed care for women who access this care.
“As a second year PhD student here at UWindsor, I have gained valuable insights surrounding research while making wonderful connections with faculty and other students,” says Broadbent. “Joining the University of Windsor for my PhD has awarded me with many opportunities that I feel will help me grow as both a researcher and an educator. It’s been truly enriching.”
Broadbent looks forward to attending local, national, and international conferences and workshops, where she can apply "knowledge mobilization strategies" she learned during her graduate studies—processes used to transfer research-based knowledge into nursing practice.
This fall, Madison will be presenting her master’s thesis titled “The Exploration of Art Creation Amongst Ontario Mothers with Histories of Gender-Based Violence Using Interpretive Description” at the Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International in Phuket, Thailand.
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