Nurses’s knowledge fund programs

A Canada-wide initiative for nurses’ education

The Nurses Knowledge Fund was launched by the Roasters Foundation in 2000. It provides funding in support of educational and professional development initiatives to nurses working in the institutions across Canada:

  • CHU Sainte-Justine
  • Toronto Sick Kids Hospital
  • Réseau de Soins Palliatifs
  • Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine
  • Institut et Hôpital neurologiques de Montréal
  • Hôpital de Verdun
  • CUSM
  • Nursing Explorations de l’Université McGill

Through the Nurses Knowledge Fund, we support nurses’ education and professional development.

Below is a description of some of the programs made possible through Roasters’ Foundation funding:

SickKids Hospital: Supporting Innovation and Professional Development through Clinical Fellowships

At Sick Kids hospital in Toronto, nurses have access to Clinical Fellowships, which provide them with the opportunity to pursue important research projects tied to the priorities of their department. This produces a win-win; with nurses actively engaged in their own professional development, and therefore motivated to stay in the profession, and the hospital benefiting from the new knowledge gained through such research work.

Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine: Promoting Higher Level Education in Mental Health Nursing

Nurses working at HLHL have access to bursaries to help them pursue masters’-level studies. Funding supports research targeted toward specific knowledge and clinical gaps in mental health care, such as the legal and ethical aspects of recent changes in mental health nursing protocol and the impact of nursing techniques used on young adults during their first experiences with mental health issues.

Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital: Empowering Nurses at the Bedside and Beyond

Through the use of Roasters’ funding, nurses at the Neuro are experimenting with a new model of bedside care, Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB). Drawing on LEED principles of efficiency, this model re-examines and re-assesses the nurse’s role in an effort to maximize the time devoted to patient care and minimize the time spent “hunting and gathering” for instruments and equipment. Introduced in hospitals throughout the US and Wales, and for the first time being piloted in Canada, it has been shown to improve patient safety and teamwork and reduce waste and duplication. It was developed in the US in 2003 by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
“I believe that the TCAB project will help us eliminate the waste in care delivery, improve job satisfaction and nurse retention, enhance communication and collaboration among team members and, consequentially, improve patient care. We are very confident that this initiative is long overdue and that it will have positive results, not only on the team but to the benefit of our patients. They are the reason why we are here doing what we do.” – Nurse Manager leading a TCBA Pilot Unit within the MUHC

Hôpital de Verdun: Equipping them with the Basic Tools

For a long time, nurses at Verdun hospital have been in serious need of new equipment for training and professional development. Thanks to Roasters’ support, they have been able to purchase these much needed tools, including Nursing Anne, a mannequin that will allow them to learn, practice and perfect important patient care techniques.

Université de Montréal’s e-learning course for Masters’-level nursing students

Recognizing the growing body of evidence that points to the introduction of new technology as a means of retaining nurses in the profession, the Roasters Foundation has funded the development of an online course as part of Université de Montréal’s graduate nursing curriculum.

McGill University Health Centre’s e-learning course for staff development

Continuing education and professional development are key areas where philanthropic dollars can make a difference. That is why we are funding the development of an e-learning course for nurses and other staff members at the MUHC.

Université de Montreal’s Centre for Innovation in Nursing Education (CIFI): A Leading Role for the Roasters Foundation in nursing education research

CIFI’s principle mission is to develop, evaluate and diffuse innovations in nursing education in order to inform best practices and improve the quality of patient care. It serves as a central point of reference for researchers, professors and students of all levels, allowing them to stay abreast of the latest developments in the field of education, training and professional development for nurses.

Beyond providing financial support for this program, and in recognition of its important role the Roasters Foundation is also involved with CIFI in a leadership capacity, with our executive director, Rachel Renaud, taking on the role of president of CIFI’s Board of Directors in 2011.
Site web: CIFI

Roasters Foundation’s President, Rachel Renaud awards education bursaries to participants of McGill Nursing Explorations 2010 conference, featured here with Robyn Dalton, our Program and Research Analyst.

McGill Nursing Explorations: Bringing together the best and the brightest for a day of learning and exchange

Every year, the McGill University School of Nursing hosts a one-day conference aimed at gathering the nursing community together to share in their knowledge and expertise with one another. With its timely themes and well-attended presentations by nursing leaders from across the country, its impact on the profession is clear. A proud sponsor of this event, Roasters helps to ensure its accessibility to nursing students at a reduced rate.

As a Patron of the Gala, our President, Rachel Renaud (seen here) is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of nursing to those outside the profession.

Canadian Nurses Foundation Annual Nightingale Gala

The Canadian Nurses Foundation Annual Nightingale Gala celebrates the contribution of Canadian nurses to advancing nursing knowledge and improving the health of all Canadians. Funds raised are dedicated to the CNF’s Nursing 4.0 campaign to raise $4 million to fund scholarships and research opportunities for Canadian nurses.

The Roasters Foundation is a proud sponsor of the Annual Nightingale Gala. We believe that celebrating nursing excellence at all levels guarantees continued innovation in Canadian healthcare.