To celebrate National Nursing Week (May 8-14), the RBC Foundation is donating $60,000 to support skills development for nurses at Georgetown and Milton hospitals.
The Georgetown Hospital Foundation and Milton District Hospital Foundation will each receive $10,000 per year for the next three years, and will use the funds to help address the critical need of providing pediatric training for emergency department nurses.
Last fall, emergency departments at both hospitals saw a large increase in pediatric patients with respiratory viruses.
The donation will enable each hospital to provide Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) training. It's designed to give nurses the opportunity to acquire, practice and demonstrate proficiency in the assessment and management of critically ill pediatric patients.
“Nurses play a vital role in building prosperous, healthy communities for today and for the future,” said Rick Atherton, RBC regional vice president. “Each year, RBC is proud to recognize the contributions and commitments of nurses by supporting their ongoing access to training and resources. It’s our small way of saying ‘thank you’ to these courageous individuals.”
The RBC Foundation has been supporting nurses’ access to education, training, resources, and most recently including mental health care, since 2009. This year’s commitment of more than $500,000 over three years will provide funding to 22 hospitals in southwestern Ontario, bringing the total investment in local nursing to $1.7 million by 2025.
Held in honour of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, National Nursing Week is designed to increase the awareness of the many contributions nursing makes to the well-being of Canadians.
