Nurses show a passion for caring

Nurses bring the art that helps apply the science to get patients to their best wellness, says Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Evelyn Belchior. “We are the navigators of all care – from the moment a patient is admitted, during therapy, on discharge, and when they are being cared for at home, in long-term care or in seniors’ centres.”

Nurses are not something that can be taken or left, she says. “Without us the healthcare system simply cannot work.”

Nurses grow and mature in a profession where education is continual and where practical knowledge is gained through hands-on experience and collaboration across the profession. “Each designation brings something unique to the skill set of a team,” notes Belchior. “It is this coming together of different education and experience that makes the whole and brings a better result for our patients.”

SEIU Healthcare is a union that represents over 7500 nurses in retirement and nursing homes, homecare and community services, and hospitals across Ontario.

“For us, success is when a patient says so,” says Belchior. “Written thank you notes remind us that we are doing the right things because patients believe we are and that matters.”

For Belchior, a card that simply says ‘thank you, you saved me,’ speaks the loudest. “I carry that thought with me every day, but never forget that it wasn’t only me – an entire team collaborated to bring a win for this patient.”

“We joined the profession because we have a passion to