Canada’s regulated nursing workforce remains predominantly comprised of women. It’s estimated at 91% (90.6 % in BC) in the latest data from 2021 so International Women’s Day resonates with us. However, as we pointed out last month, the number of women in nursing leadership roles, especially Black women in leadership roles, continues to miss the mark.
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Recognizing Black History Month – Celebrating Nurses
Black nurses have a long history of contributing to the health of British Columbians but for decades this contribution went unrecognized. Although Black women could attend Schools of Nursing in the US in the 1870s, it was not until the late 1940s that Canadian Schools of Nursing allowed their entry. However, Black nurses emigrated from the US to BC and early census data showed some listed as nurses and named in records as having attended births.
A new bursary in memory of Carol Acton
A new bursary in memory of Carol Acton will be established in 2023.
Carol Acton (1944-2021) was born in Strathroy, Ontario and graduated from the Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in London Ontario in 1966. After moving to Vancouver, she worked at St. Paul’s Hospital as staff nurse and head nurse on surgical units. She advanced her career, completing both an undergraduate (BSN 1974) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at UBC. She then became Director of Care at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. She went on to UBC hospital as a Patient Services Manager for the medical units and then moved to VGH.
A Record 274 Award Winners
RNFBC is proud to announce that a record number of 274 bursaries worth $276,000 were given out in the most recent award cycle.
While this was a record of giving for the Foundation, the number of applicants far exceeded what we were able to award. This demand demonstrates the pressing need to support both students hoping to become nurses and nurses who are furthering their education in order to meet the requirements of the health care system.
Bernadet Ratsoy Award
This award was founded in memory of Bernadet Ratsoy by her husband along with contributions from her many colleagues and friends. A well respected Nurse and Educator with a 28 year career at St. Paul’s Hospital culminating in the role of Vice President of Nursing, as Executive Director of the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses and finishing her career in 2002 as Associate Dean of the School of Health Sciences at BCIT.
Vancouver Foundation: Publicover Award
The award established in honour of Agnes M Publicover provide an award for students at the Undergraduate, Graduate, or Certificate level in any RNFBC Bursary Supported Education Programs.
Administered through the Vancouver Foundation, RNFBC was chosen as the beneficiary starting 2020. Born in Scotland in 1915 and passed away in 2014, Mrs. Publicover valued her extensive circle of family and friends. Although not a nurse herself, she also had an immense respect for the nursing community and the costs associated in nursing education. She was a strong supporter of many worthy organizations in her community such as St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Art Gallery and especially the YWCA and RNFBC is so pleased to be included in that list.
Season of Giving
Throughout the challenges of the last number of years, we are grateful nurses have continued to do their jobs, caring for us when we are at our most vulnerable. We are also grateful that there are many who continue to choose nursing as their profession. Since 1979, Registered Nurses Foundation of BC has financially supported those entering schools of nursing as well as those who require further education to meet the needs of a complex health care system.
This year, the Foundation received many more applications from RNs, LPNs and RPNs than we could support. Sadly, we have had to disappoint many qualified applicants.
Remembering Military Nurses
On this day of remembrance, RNFBC pays tribute to the many nurses who have gone to war. The BC History of Nursing Society wrote of BC nurses who served in World War I, pointing out that 54 Vancouver General Hospital grads alone enlisted. In World War II 4,480 Canadian nurses served in the military as …
Thanksgiving Message
To our nurses: While we are all snug at home enjoying family, friends and the delicious aroma of Thanksgiving cooking, many of you are working diligently to make sure our loved ones are cared for. On this day of giving thanks, all of us at RNFBC wish to take a moment to recognize all of …
Thank You!
As we enter the fall academic season, RNFBC would like to give a shout out to all the people and organizations that are so important to health care in British Columbia. First, we wish to recognize our nurse educators who work very hard to instill knowledge and skills into our future generation of nurses. We are …