Local nurses benefit from RBC Foundation grant

The RBC Foundation is supporting local nurses to mark National Nursing Week.

A media release says a $30,000 donation has been made to nurses at Walkerton and District Hospital, Hanover and District Hospital and Owen Sound Regional Hospital.

The funds will support continued nursing education with much-needed mental health support and technical training.

Additional funds will also be allocated in each hospital to support activities and guest speakers specifically designed to support the mental health needs of nurses.

“We are grateful for this support, and the additional resources towards the mental health of our nurses could not have come at a better time,” said Angela Wainscott, Executive Director, Hanover and District Hospital Foundation. “At every level and in every department, staff are feeling the added pressures of an increase in the number and acuity levels of patients. Our hospital is busier than ever and the effects of the pandemic are still very real. Additional mental health support is what our staff need most right now and we are grateful to RBC for recognizing this need.”

According to data released by Ontario Health’s COVID frontline wellness program, nurses are seeking mental health help more than any other frontline healthcare worker. Recent data released by Mental Health Research Canada also shows that healthcare workers, and nurses in particular, have been profoundly impacted by the pandemic.

“The pandemic has proven not only how important nurses are to our community, but also how important it is for us to continue to take care of these local heroes,” said Melanie Renon, regional vice-president, central shores, RBC. “Our goal with these donations is to help ensure our nurses – who always answer the call – not only feel appreciated, but also have the resources and supports they need to continue the great work they do for all of us.”

At Walkerton hospital, the funds will enable use of the Elsevier clinical skills online database.

“Having this tool will allow our staff to leverage the latest, evidence based policies and procedures which will reduce risk and improve patient outcomes,” said Hayley Wilhelm, Executive Director, Walkerton and District Hospital Foundation. “In the past, we have developed our own policies and procedures, which is time consuming and not always current.”

Hanover and District, Walkerton and District and Owen Sound Regional are three of several local southwestern Ontario hospital foundations receiving donations in honour of National Nursing Week. In total, the RBC Foundation is donating $120,000 to 13 local hospital foundations this year to support nurses in Halton, Grey, Bruce, Huron-Perth, Oxford and Dufferin Counties.

Over the past 13 years the RBC Foundation has donated more than $1.2 million to local south western Ontario nurses to access education & training.

Read original story from Midwestern Ontario News – BlackburnNews.com