We have been offering a lecture series titled “Intentional Conversations : Learning Our Talk” over the past several semesters. Inspired by the book “I’m Finding My Talk” by Rebecca Thomas, we are building a deeper understanding of our shifting roles as nursing faculty who engage daily with each other, students and our communities. We aspire to integrate the conversations in meaningful ways that truly elevate our work with all of our students and with our engagement within our communities of practice.
Our journey began with a “Blanket Exercise” in October 2022 led by Indigenous leaders and with the goal to build self understanding about our shared history as people in Canada ever mindful of the vision of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Working with blankets that represent the land and the historical connections and roles of First Nations, Inuit and later Metis peoples, this exercise builds empathy and education by engaging participants in their own personal, emotional and intellectual level.
Building research capacity at UWindsor Faculty of Nursing is a vital priority to ensure we continue to influence, through evidence practices, policies and health care system change that promotes the best health outcomes for our communities and society. Research was the focus of our second lecture in March 2023 and featured Dr. Nancy Edwards, professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, CIHR leader and author of several publications, most recently of Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Edwards shared both her clinical and research interests in the fields of public and population health. She discussed the role that health services, policy, and clinical research had in informing the design and evaluation of multi-level and multi-strategy community health programs.
Our third session in October 2023 focussed on Nursing’s Impact within the Healthcare Landscape. We hosted Chief Nursing Officer for Canada, Dr. Leigh Chapman and chief nurse of the International Council of Nurses, Dr. Michelle Acorn. They shared their respective roles in stabilizing the nursing workforce and contributing to Canada’s health policy, offering strategic advice from a nursing perspective to Canada’s health portfolio. Ms. Chapman’s talk highlighted the need to harmonize recruitment and integration of internationally educated nurses in Canada, advancing labour mobility for nurses working between provinces, and improving workforce planning data. She encouraged nursing students, front-line workers, administrators, senior leadership, and government officials to address nursing retention and enact change.
Dr. Acorn emphasized the significance of education in meeting or surpassing quality standards and aligning them with population health needs. She acknowledged the demand for nursing recruitment and retention programs to combat the global workforce shortage, while also advocating for safe and supportive service delivery environments for nurses. She specifically encouraged women within the global health workforce to assume a more prominent role in leadership positions.
Most recently, in our 4th conversation, Dr. Bukola Salami spoke about Leadership and Mentorship for Black and Racialized Students at a lecture in June 2024. She encouraged racialized individuals to set a positive mindset and tone, manage their mental health and create a network of mentors and trusted colleagues. She emphasized the importance of being open when opportunities come, prioritizing one’s time and the value of leading grant-writing and research publications for professional growth, policy influence, collaborative opportunities, and professional responsibility.
These conversations have accelerated our growth and understanding of important topics in Nursing. We hope you will be on the lookout for future sessions and join us!