Celebrate Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) Week October 11-17!
Health care providers who work in MDR are a vital part of the health care team – their role is especially on everyone’s mind during a pandemic as they protect and strengthen patient safety by ensuring health care equipment is dependable, sterilized, and effective. They inspect, assemble, clean, and decontaminate health care equipment – they must be highly organized and pay attention to each little detail in their work.
SEIU-West members, like Christina who works at Saskatoon City Hospital, received their Sterile Processing certification and each day set up equipment for cleaning and for ordering stock when supplies run low. They deal with a wide variety of instruments and equipment, so no day is the same. Christina and the rest of her MDR team make sure all the health care equipment is safe for future patients.
In recognition of their incredible work, we ask that you email and tell us why those who work in MDR are an important part of the health care team. Email your answers to [email protected] for your chance to win a visa gift card!
Deadline to apply: October 23, 2020.
Food Service Workers are vital to the care of patients, residents, and clients. Those who work in Food Services ensure each person requiring care has their nutritional needs met. Staff and visitors also benefit from the talents of Food Service Workers as they prepare meals with high-quality hygienic standards.
As a part of the health care team, Food Service Workers must take into account the various health care needs of residents and patients - our professional Food Services members make sure that food allergies and dietary needs are taken seriously in order to prevent possible complications that can cause set-backs in recovery and impact a person’s overall health.
SEIU-West members who work in Food Services are central to quality health care, and in recognition of their dedication, we’re launching our Food Services Week Contest!
Tell us about your local Food Services Worker and how they contribute to your health care team – by entering, that Food Services Worker will be entered to win a Visa gift card!
Email [email protected] to enter – the deadline is October 19, 2020!
Laurie works as a Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) at a long-term care home in Swift Current. 
Her Home Care/Special Care Aide course has prepared her well for her very busy days which consist of a wide variety of jobs.
In addition to providing a range of personal care support for her residents, Laurie also does laundry, cleans, spends one-on-one time with residents, monitors and orders food and supplies; evaluates mobility and overall health of residents, answers call lights and communicates with the rest of the health care team to ensure they can maintain a safe environment for both residents and staff.
Even though Laurie’s days are hectic, she enjoys her work.
Seeing the smiles on residents and families faces, and hearing “I missed you” from the residents even though she has only been gone for 12 hours makes her day.
It is with pleasure that we celebrate Laurie and all our CCAs who are valuable members of the nursing family and a part of our health care team of front line heroes.
Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) provide hands-on personal care to clients, patients, and residents to support their physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs so they can function at an optimum level during their day. 
As part of nursing week, we’re shining the spotlight on Melody who works as a CCA in home care in rural Saskatchewan. Melody’s education includes Special care aid course, Sociology, and Medical terminology.
Melody loves that she has one on one time with her clients and feels very humbled and honoured to be let into their personal space to help with their needs.
Melody believes the best part of her job is the relationships and special bonds that are created; she realizes that we can learn so much from the residents’ experiences and the stories they tell.
Melody remembers a group of residents she affectionately calls ‘the peanut gallery’ who used to gather in the workplace to talk, even though they could have gathered in the common room.
When she had time, she would chat and laugh with them for a few minutes. “I still see some of them from time to time at the nursing home when we go and bathe clients there,” Melody says. “They still remember me which makes me feel so touched that I will always be a part of their memories and life.”
We are so proud to celebrate our front line heroes like Melody who work as part of the family of nursing and the health care provider team.
Ashley is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) working at a long-term care home in Moose Jaw. 
Since taking her course through SIAST (now Sask Polytechnic), Ashley is continually updating her skills and education.
Whether it be TLR, PPE and infection control or long-term and palliative care, she is adding value to the care she provides to her residents.
In a typical day, Ashley ensures everything runs smoothly on the floor during her shift and deals with any issues that may arise; she troubleshoots with her team to come up with possible plans of action.
Ashley also passes out medication and performs any treatments or procedures that need to be done; she handles admissions, palliative care and Doctors’ orders and changes to medication.
Ashley speaks with the doctor to discuss resident’s needs. Ashley believes in supporting the clients to live the best life they can and is a strong advocate for their needs when they cannot be for themselves.
Her most precious moments on the job is when her clients succeed in their goals. She also enjoys engaging with their families and supporting them when they need her the most.
“Every day is a new day with a brand new adventure,” Ashley says. “There is never a dull moment in long-term care.”
We are proud to celebrate the LPNs who are front line heroes working tirelessly as part of the nursing family of our broader health care team.
Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) provide personal care to clients, patients, and residents to support their physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs so they can function at an optimum level during their day. 
Since CCAs are a crucial part of the nursing team, we’re shining the spotlight on Jacey who works at a long-term care home this Nursing week.
Jacey completed the Health Care Aide Program-Medicine Hat College, CPR/First Aide, and WHMIS. She’s also certified for Dementia Client Care through my program at Medicine Hat College.
Jacey’s typical day comprises shift change report at the start and end of each shift where they share ongoing assessments about care needs for residents. She also physically assists residents with personal care such as daily baths and prepares them for breakfast, takes them for lunch and a lay down for an afternoon nap. Jacey sometimes subs as an activity worker by serving coffee and playing bingo with them.
Jacey’s favourite part of the job is being there for the residents who either have no family or their family can't come see them. She loves being able to make them smile, giving them a helping hand, or just giving them a hug to make them feel better when they're sad.
Jacey is proud of the moments when she is able to make a resident’s bad day better; when she holds their hand, listens to them even when she’s just walked in for her shift.
We are honoured to celebrate the Continuing Care Assistants who work tirelessly everyday as part of the essential front line heroes in Health Care.