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e - The ansdan Champion, Tuesday, ielay-1, 2000 ~Sun.Mlay 1'dâCO u i National Nursing Week Celebrating those on front Unes of healthcare By.IRENE GENTLE The Champion Jt's a bright, sultry spring momning and inside a welI-kept Milton home sit two womnen on the front lines of healthcare. Heather Cass-Kerr is a fuli-time nurse for the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON). She's bere to check on an L-Catbeter, recently placed in the arm of resident David Sullivan. Due to circumstances he didn't feel like explaining, the amiable Mr. Sullivan broke several small bones in his left lsand in February. Tben ail bell broke kxse. "Somebow an infection got in there," he said mildly. Wbat actually happened is he fell victirs to a raging septic infection that came close to killing hirs. "He went septic," said Ms Cass-Kerr. "His whole body." Fortunately, his wife knew enougb to get him to a hospital immediately. Tberssa Sullivan is a nurse at the William Osier Health Centre in Brampton, on the site formerly known as Peel Memorial Hospital. This week, May 8 to 14, bas been declared National Nursing Week, a nicety botb women appreciate in principle. In practice, Usey're probably too busy trying to save lives and comfort people to tbink about it.. "It's nice to be rscognized, of cours," sbruggéd Ms Sullivan. "But wbat makes it aIl worth it in tbe long mun is seeing your patients get better. We do it because we cars." Ms Cass-Kerr bas been employed witb tbe VON since 1983, first in Peel, and now in Halton. Todsy, ber fulI-time best is in Milton, Campbellville and Kilbride. Tbere's also one fulI-time VON professional making tbe rounds in Acton, and another in Georgetown. Tbis nortb Halton tearu is bolstersd by a fleet of part-timers. Most often, tbe VON is called to s case by tbe Community Cars Access Centre (CCAC). Visita take place in tbe patient's bome, are covered by OHIP, and can range from leas tban once a day to up to four times a day. On ber job, Ms Cass-Kerr deals witb ventilators, wound dress- ings and blood transfusions. Sbe bas responsibilities and makes crucial calîs. "You bave 10 be independent and you bave to make quick deci- sions," said Ms Cass-Kerr. "Are you going to caîl a doctor? Are you going to send tbem off to emergency?' Today sbe's bers to monitor tbe catbeter wbicb belps pump antibioties into Mr. Sullivan's ravaged system witbout daily IV cbanges. "Otberwise, tbe veina can become weak," said Ms Cass-Kerr. 'lTbey juat blow." Tbe visit is fairly straigbtforward. But wben Ms Cass-Kerr enters tbe bome of ascllent, sbe may be called on 10 wear thse bat of a teacber and social worker. 'Tbey'll sort of utilize us as a sounding board," sbe said. "You play social worker a lot. And education is a big part of being in tbe community." Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Client Dsvid Sullivan getse hie anitlblotlcs for hiesIV pump changed by VON nurse Heather Cross-Kerr. The vital work of nurses la belng celebrsted thîs week. So is making use of wbIrtever resources are available. ",You just work witb wbat you've got and you work witb tbe family," sbe said. Botb women agrse Ontaiio's bealthcare system is facing tbe double wbammy of an aging population in need of more acute cars. And community nurses are, said Ms Sullivan, a vital part of modem bealtbcare. "Tbere' s support," sbe said. "We can caîl tbem any time. Community nursing bas become so important." Hospital nursing has also cbanged, and in both arenas, familly plays a banda-on role. "A lot of families live in tbe old days wbers they expect thse nurse to do everytbing," said Ms Sullivan. "But tbey can get tbemt a drink of water or a bath. 'Ibey'rs afraid tbey can't do tbst." Today, up to, 60 per cent of Ms Cass-Kerr's clients are suffering witb cancer. Some will die, and tbougb sbe is trained to keep ber feelings out of it, ber beart must always be at risk. But tbers's still tbe comfort of knowing abe helped ease tbe pTbs'sasne ffeig odbcus bydeda oe wbicb is wbere tbey want to be," abe said. Today, more money is being pumped into bealtbeare. In lant week's provincial budget, a full $1.4 billion was set aside to reits- venate the ailing system. But thers are probleros. A cbronic nursing shortage that wasn't belped by slasbing nursing scbool spaces years ago la now being compounded by a bike in education rsqtsirsments. Becoming a rsgistersd nurse today means completing a four- year degree prograan instead of a tbree-year college diploma pro- gram. Sitting in bis dining room, flanked by two women With a palpa- ble dedication 10 nursing, Mr. Sullivan shakes bis bead in frustra- tion at dais. As botb nurses can atteat, thse legacy of tbeir career la a trail of memorrea, some sorrowful, others leavened witls joy. But Ebers must be sometbing in it. As Ms Cass-Kerr put it, "1'm still bers." I. Il.P è :""%t% COGECO 14 Programmlng Schedule - MaY 9th, 2000 - May l5th, 2000 I r a s E N E nta Ma i e m w~R a E n m 6MI~On SOM90M H601 m PrUSIN 560p~7 NItidnl 5:30pm s m fL5CSCS n 5 L*Cp dnh &top sçoIsZc# 7« Aw* Iw ww .c o g e c o .c a &% H Hâ On 80 H&SWi* 5 7.Op NbuLciSa 70ps Siastsa sO nl *Mo Actonsw NltÇi taSm rId U pWO i 21 Main Street Northn, .41Mntmal tpi5t~ Amtn, ON L7J 1V9 519-853-1270, or 853-4700 Featuie this woek: "Muncipal Seat" featurlng Reglonal Chairman, Joyce Savoline - Wednesday, 6pM