This text is part of the special Nursing Profession notebook
The finalists for the Florence 2023 Prize in the Professional Commitment category are committed to caring for patients with humanism, rigor and integrity. Through their professional, personal and volunteer actions, they demonstrate passion and deep dedication both to their profession and to their teams.
France Desilets: for the right of women to choose
Throughout her career, young retiree France Desilets was at the heart of the fight for women’s right to control their bodies. “I became a nurse late in life, around my mid-thirties,” says France Desilets. Nothing predestined me for it, but in my youth, I was an activist for the LGBTQ2+ cause and for the right to abortion. »
She remembers, among other things, being present at the demonstrations during the Chantal Daigle affair in 1989. “It was probably something that had an impact on me and when, later, I obtained my diploma from As a nurse, I saw a job offer at the Morgentaler clinic and it immediately grabbed my heart. I didn’t become a nurse to do this, but it seems like it was expected of me. »
In 2004, she began working at the clinic of Doctor Henry Morgentaler, of which she would later become the general director, then co-owner. When asked what values drive her, France Desilets mentions the individual and their right to choose, empathy and the helping relationship. After 18 years as a nurse dedicated to women’s sexual and reproductive health, what she remembers most is how much a great team can make a difference.
“Such a team can change the world by being pro-choice and being on the ground doing extraordinary work, while supporting those who engage with government,” she says.
Like everywhere else, the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) in Quebec has been a long fight. In 2006, universal accessibility to abortion was established after a Superior Court judgment. In addition to establishing free abortion, this judgment made it possible for the woman to choose the place and doctor for her intervention.
According to France Desilets, however, these rights should never be taken for granted. While south of the border, the right to abortion is under serious threat, this activist thinks we must remain vigilant.
“In Quebec, we are one of the places where abortion is accessible and free. Certainly, there are some barriers, but few compared to other places, in the United States and elsewhere in the world. But we must not be complacent. On the contrary, we must remain vigilant. As soon as there is a barrier that arises, we must try to find solutions. We are not immune to what is happening in the United States. It’s a fight that is never over and we must continue to fight. »
For example, anti-abortion groups are currently in court to try to invalidate Law 92, promulgated by Gaétan Barrette when he was Minister of Health, in 2016. This law prohibits demonstrating or attempting to dissuade a woman to obtain an abortion within 50 meters of an abortion clinic in Quebec.
“We fought so that there was this buffer zone everywhere, because the Morgentaler clinic was targeted by demonstrations. I understood that, even if we obtained an injunction against the demonstrators, this would continue, and that we had to have a law like in other provinces. I assembled a team to ask the government to pass a law. »
Johanne Malec-Lalo: care adapted to differences
When she was little, Johanne Malec-Lalo was hospitalized for a fracture in Havre-Saint-Pierre. This is how she came into contact with nurses for the first time and the spark for her future profession was born. After many years at the Sept-Îles hospital center, this Natashquan native has worked since 2003 at the Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-utenam Innu Health Center, located in Sept-Îles, and provides home care to Indigenous patients.
An Innu herself, she offers so-called culturally safe care. “It’s about adapting to the customs and beliefs of Aboriginal people,” she says. For example, if there is palliative care to be given, I have to take into account the fact that there are prayers, because they are very spiritual people. The fact that I myself am Indigenous gives people a lot of security. They are less fearful. Everything that happened with residential schools made them fearful of society and the public system. I adapt my follow-ups taking this into account and I take time to give them explanations. »
Cultural differences, whether with members of the First Nations or with newcomers to Quebec, require particular sensitivity when providing health care, in order to avoid misunderstandings, misunderstandings and even trauma to patients.
“Even in remote areas, like on the North Shore, today, we have new arrivals and establishment staff are receiving training on culturally safe care. »
When 37-year-old Attikamek Joyce Echaquan died at Joliette hospital in dehumanizing circumstances where staff were shown to have demonstrated racism, in 2020, Johanne Malec-Lalo was deeply shocked.
“It intertwined my two worlds: my Innu world and my nursing world,” she says. It saddened me, shocked me, I went through all the emotions, I really cried. This shook me so much that I wrote an article for the cyberjournal of the Order of Nurses of the North Shore. »
In this opinion piece, Johanne Malec-Lalo wrote: “I am disturbed and disappointed that health professionals could have shown so much hatred towards a vulnerable person in the context of providing care. Instead of being reassured and considered, Joyce Echaquan was denigrated, humiliated, despised and, above all, deprived of her dignity. »
Convinced that we must “break this chain of hatred”, Mme Malec-Lalo believes that, through their work, nurses can improve things and that it is important to offer training in this direction.
“There is a wall of misunderstanding regarding history,” she continues in her text. Training in cultural safety would be beneficial to nursing students and newly hired nursing staff in establishments, although some of them already offer it. »
After 35 years of practice, she retains her motivation and love of her profession. “As of this year, I am eligible to retire, but I tell myself that I can’t stop now, because I still love my job. When I get up in the morning, I can’t wait to come to work. »
Rosetta Antonacci: keeping the patient at the heart of your vision
Throughout her 35-year nursing career, Rosetta Antonacci continued to improve her knowledge. Today she passes on her knowledge to the next generation. At the heart of this teaching: its philosophy, which is to always think of the patient first.
“I became a nurse because I am an empathetic person, I like to help people, and it is important to play a positive role in society,” says Mme Antonacci.
After studying at Vanier College, she began her career as a clinician in the oncology department of St. Mary’s Hospital Center, where she remained for 15 years.
“While working in oncology, I understood that life is fragile and that it is very important to treat people as you would like to be treated yourself,” she says. I learned this very early in my career and it really helped me. I always had in mind that it was like taking care of a family member. We must treat everyone with respect, empathy and courage. »
After oncology, she worked in the emergency room for many years. “I also learned a lot from seeing people of all ages and backgrounds. I became very skilled at assessing patients and understanding what was going on with them. »
At the same time, she returned to school to obtain her bachelor’s degree in nursing science. She then became head nurse of the acute cardiac telemetry and internal medicine unit, a teaching unit at McGill University, within which she established a work culture focused on student training. She is also continuing her studies for a master’s degree in administration sciences at Laval University.
Throughout this constantly progressing professional and academic career, she remains aware of the importance of keeping the patient at the heart of her vision, while passing on her knowledge to the next generation. She thus became a lecturer at the Ingram School of Nursing (ESII), with the aim of bridging the gap between clinical and academic environments, between practice and education.
“For me, the basis always remains the patient, the family, and now the future nurses who arrive,” she says. It’s important to help them and teach them why we are here. In this profession you always have to remember that even if there are difficult days, at the end you can say to yourself: I helped someone today. During my career, I have helped many people, but they have also helped me appreciate my health and my life. »
In 35 years, the nursing profession has changed a lot. “It has become more difficult with the size of our hospitals, the number of patients we have and the working conditions, but the nursing profession is among those in which the population has the most confidence. Patients and their families encourage us, and our mission remains the same, but we must not forget that nurses have the abilities, knowledge and skills to do great things and play an increasingly important role. »
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