Nearly 200 emerging and established leaders from nursing and allied health disciplines came together for a Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare (SBNH) Symposium on September 13th. Staff from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and the University Health Network (UHN) gathered for this full-day symposium in Toronto.
The event was an opportunity to bring together those with a nursing background (RNs, RPNs, advanced practice nurses, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, educators, managers), as well as interprofessional educators and managers, social workers, behavioural therapists, medical radiation technologists, occupational therapists, counsellors/therapists, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists, spanning all facets of our healthcare system. The symposium offered an enriching experience for attendees to network across institutions and healthcare discipline, build momentum, and share SBNH initiatives and insights.
Harnessing the power of a strengths-based approach
The symposium began with a welcome address by Pam Hubley, VP Health Disciplines & Chief Nursing Executive at UHN followed by a keynote address by Christina Clausen, site lead for the 捆绑SM社区 Nursing Collaborative at the Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West Central Montreal.
In her keynote address Harnessing the power of a strengths-based approach 鈥� a shared journey from deficits to strengths, Christina Clausen highlighted the importance of SBNH鈥檚 philosophy and value-driven approach. Clausen pulled from her own experience as a founding member of the SBNH Clinical Partnership Group in Montreal. As Pam Hubley noted, Christina Clausen鈥檚 鈥渆xceptional鈥� keynote 鈥減rovided clear direction on how to bring the ideas of SBNH to life in concrete and doable ways鈥�.听
Learning with and from SBNH Leaders
As the event continued, guests were invited to a round table discussion, small-group implementation sessions, and lectures to encourage attendees to deepen their learning and begin envisioning the future of their SBNH implementation journeys. The symposium culminated with a closing conversation with Professor Laurie Gottlieb, the developer of SBNH.
Throughout the day there were many opportunities to learn with and from SBNH Leaders. A panel discussion with SBNH Leaders Erin Vandeven (SickKids), Sarah Davidson (Holland Bloorview), and Connie Cameron (SickKids) focused on their stories, knowledge, and strategies on leading and practicing SBNH. Keynote speaker Christina Clausen noted, 鈥渢his panel highlighted many excellent take-aways for using and embedding SBNH in our work such as: using the spiralling process, radical listening, and being intentional by practicing the labeling and linking of SBNH values to our actions鈥�. She went on to note that our SBNH journeys 鈥渃an all start with one conversation at a time."
The symposium also included a session on SBNH implementation facilitated by SBNH Leaders Michele Durrant and Daniela D鈥橝nnunzio (SickKids), who encouraged participants to apply SBNH concepts and tools to their work, and to actively generate their next steps towards SBNH implementation.
The impact of SBNH on patients and families
Another highlight for many was the opportunity to reflect on the impact the SBNH approach can have on patient and family health, healing, and the care experience with a special guest speaker and family leader at Holland Bloorview. The speaker shared her personal experience and reflected on the positive impact that SBNH trained nurses and leaders had on her child and family while receiving care.
Renewed energy
The SBNH Symposium in Toronto was a resounding success and 鈥渁n exceptional day of learning with and from each other鈥�, noted Christina Clausen.听 Pam Hubley added, it was 鈥渁n inspiring day of collaboration and learning. Everyone was uplifted and energized.鈥�
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