Two nurses working at Hospice Huronia have achieved the highest level of hospice palliative care certification.
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Nursing Certification has been awarded to Carly Hoy and Christine Preston, who work at Hospice Huronia’s Tomkins House, a five-bed hospice home that opened its doors in April 2020.
Hospice Huronia executive director Debbie Kesheshian said her team strives to provide the highest quality of care that the community deserves.
“Christine and Carly have demonstrated their dedication to their profession and to our community,” Kesheshian said.
“Their specialized knowledge, skills and attitude to the delivery of comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate care to all persons with life-limiting illness and their families will only enhance the hospice experience here in North Simcoe.”
Since opening, Tomkins House staff have cared for more than 260 patients and their families at the Penetanguishene facility.
Kesheshian said achieving this certification is one of the most challenging that any professional can undertake.
“Both nurses have spent months preparing for the final examination along with the ongoing care they provide at the bedside,” she said.
“They are an inspiration to the other members of our team and our community can be assured that their loved ones will be well cared for under their leadership. On behalf of our board of directors and Team Tomkins, we celebrate this great achievement for our colleagues.”
According to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, palliative care is described as “an approach that improves quality of life of clients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention of suffering by early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychological and spiritual.”
Canadian standards for hospice palliative care nursing involve providing relief from pain and “other distressing symptoms” while affirming life and regards dying as a normal process.
It also integrates psychological and spiritual aspects of client care and intends neither to hasten or postpone death. As well, it offers a support system to help clients live as actively as possible until death and helps families copes the client’s illness and in bereavement.
