Happy Nurses Week!

This year looks a little different for most of our nurses at CK Public Health. COVID-19 has caused a major shift in the workloads of many.

To celebrate the flexibility, dedication and scope of our Public Health Nurses, we will be sharing a number of roles that they have taken on over the last few months in order to keep our community safe during these uncertain times.

Today – we want you to meet Lisa!

Lisa is one of the CK Public Health Nurses turned Emergency Shelter Site Support Worker in order to get the Temporary Shelter up and running in CK.

Some of the duties of an Emergency Shelter Site Support Worker included:

• Working on-site alongside Employment and Social Services staff during shelter set up to provide support and respond to any/all questions
• Providing support regarding the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance Document for Homeless Shelters.
• Providing support regarding Public Health Related Training for the shelter staff orientation (This included Assessment and Screening Practices including proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, Infection Prevention and Control overview and harm reduction).
• Providing shelter staff with a resource binder related to “All Things Public Health”
• Supporting, setting up and updating Ministry of Health Screening Tool and protocols for the shelter.
• Coordinating with the CK Public Health Communication Team to provide proper signage around the shelter. (messaging related to screening, physical distancing, cough and sneeze etiquette, hand washing, hand sanitizing, harm reduction, etc.)

*FUN FACT: Lisa is bilingual and played a key role in assisting us in translating many of our key public health messages from English to French.

 “I believe that most nurses become nurses because they want to help people. I know that was the case for me. I wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives. Regardless of age, gender, circumstance, background or walk of life. Knowing the extreme toll that COVID-19 is taking on our vulnerable homeless population in Chatham-Kent, supporting the Emergency Shelter as Site Support has shaped my life in a positive way. I’m grateful and privileged to have supported the shelter…it’s why I chose to become a nurse”. 
– Lisa Tetrault, CK Public Health Nurse

Make sure to check back each day this week as we shine a light on different role that our CK Public Health Nurses have stepped in to fill.