In this session, we will provide information regarding the role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in BC Region FNIH and the services available to all nurses, health directors and community health care workers in First Nations communities. We will highlight examples of consultation, clinical practice, leadership, research and education for Maternal Child Health, Public Health, Health Living/Chronic Disease and Mental Health.
Presentation Notes: Learning Circle Presentation Jan 19, 2012 CNS Role final
Presenters:
Elizabeth Harrold – Clinical Nurse Specialist Maternal Child Health
Elizabeth completed a Masters in Health Sciences from MacMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She has extensive experience in instructional design, delivery and evaluation of education programs in health in international settings, providing a high degree of sensitivity to and understanding of the values and traditions of other cultures. Her primary areas of research are curriculum design and evaluation, and integrating culture into nursing practice. Elizabeth has designed and delivered customized workshops promoting awareness of cultural sensitivity.
Elizabeth joined the Pacific Regional Nursing team, FNIHB, Health Canada in 2004. She is employed as the CNS in Maternal/Child Health, one of 28 new National CNS positions under the transformation strategy: she also holds a cross-appointment as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia
Elizabeth is a member of several professional organisations including the Society of Rural Physicians of BC, the BC Council for Families, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (RN Associate member) and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (A.W.H.O.N.N.). She represents nursing interests on several provincial and national committees, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada – Aboriginal Affairs Committee and the AWHONN Canada – Health Policy Committee, and she is currently the chair of the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia’s Education Review Committee.
Marlene Hoover – Clinical Nurse Specialist Public Health
Marlene Hoover joined FNIHB – BC Region in June 2011 as the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Public Health Prior to this, she was the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Communicable Disease Control, FNIH Manitoba Region (Nursing Directorate). Marlene has also held positions as a primary care nurse at the Telegraph Creek Nursing Station in Northern BC. She has practiced in Ontario, Yukon, and the National Capital –Office of Nursing Services (Ottawa) Regions. Marlene also has an extensive and varied nursing experience both in the acute care sector, nationally and internationally, and as a community health nurse with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority where she was founding member of the Bridge Community Health Clinic which continues to provide services to refugees and recent marginalized immigrants.
She received a diploma in Nursing from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing (Victoria).
She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (University of Victoria) in 1989 and a completed a Master of Science in Nursing (University of British Columbia) in 2004.
Bernice Johansen – CNS Healthy Living/Chronic Disease
Bernice Johansen started working in the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist Healthy Living/Chronic Disease in December 2010. She has an extensive nursing background having worked in a variety of settings in areas of clinical practice, education and administration across three provinces and one territory. For the past 19 years Bernice has worked with First Nations communities. She has been a Transfer Nursing Management and Practice Consultant with the Transfer Nursing team as well as a FNIH community health nurse providing nursing services for a number of First Nations communities. She gained a wealth of experience while working with Three Corners Health Society in the coordination and clinical supervision of the community health nursing program and home and community care program, diabetes programming and as the accreditation coordinator.
Bernice holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Nursing (Generalist) from Athabasca University as well as certifications in home care nursing and occupational health. Bernice has a passion for chronic disease prevention and management which was a major focus in her graduate studies.
Christine Westland – Regional Practice Consultant Mental Health
Chris Westland is a RN who has worked in maternal childcare, psychiatry, addictions and most recently the adolescent mental health consultant for FNIH. She has been presenting workshops on FASD for several years with an emphasis on supporting women with addictions in pregnancy and child raising years.
