By: Victoria Pringle, BScN RN, RPN, Sherry Espin, PhD, RN, Alyssa Indar, PhD, RN and Sue Bookey-Bassett, PhD, RN
Victoria Pringle started her career as an RPN on a surgical ward a decade ago before deciding to pursue a graduate certificate in Perioperative Nursing. Through this experience, Victoria gained a range of surgical knowledge and expertise working in operating rooms at Hamilton General Hospital and McMaster Children’s Hospital.
In 2021, Victoria returned to school to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) and recently graduated with her BScN from Toronto Metropolitan University and has begun her career as a RN working in the operating room.
As part of her studies, Victoria partnered with Dr. Sherry Espin through a WeRPN-funded research fellowship which explored the optimization of the role of RPNs in the operating room. This research was co-led by nursing faculty and knowledge users allowing Victoria to contribute her important perspective from the lens of being an RPN actively working in the operating room.
“It has been eye opening hearing from other RPNs in the province and understanding that the struggles are not limited to one geographical area,” reflects Victoria.
Her biggest takeaways were the need to expand the RPN scope of practice in the operating room, especially amid the current health human resource crisis, and the need for enhanced support for RPN practice from organizational leadership. “We need to ensure that leadership understands what RPNs can do and create policies to support better RPN utilization.”
This research has also helped Victoria to feel connected with participants, many RPNs, who expressed feeling the need for practice to change. The research process gave them a space to speak up and bring their voices forward. “I feel that this research has helped to use our collective voice to drive change together.”
Victoria valued the opportunity to have her voice heard in such a unique way by stepping into this fellowship and engaging in relevant research that draws on her clinical expertise.
“Doing the research and analysis helped me understand the gaps, but also to understand what kind of evidence we need to improve practice for RPNs in the operating room,” explains Victoria “Engaging in research was a way to break barriers that exist for RPNs like me. That was extremely important and meaningful.”
By providing funding support and important opportunities for RPNs to lead research and drive meaningful change in the RPN practice, WeRPN is helping to lead change for the profession and healthcare in general. Through this study, researchers were able to provide useful recommendations to better utilize RPNs in the operating room that will create ripple effects for those working in practice, leadership, policy, education and research.
“We are positioned for continued engagement with RPNs in subsequent work that will continue to elevate RPN voices and include their perspectives in evidence that shapes their practice.”
For RPNs who want to be involved in research that has a direct impact on both patient care and the health system, Victoria recommends embracing opportunities to engage in research and look for those mentorship opportunities, like the WeRPN fellowship: “Building a strong mentor-mentee relationship can enhance your learning experience. Don’t be afraid to get out there and know that your voice is important and valued. You can create change and meaningful impact in practice.”
Victoria feels profoundly grateful for having this opportunity that included being supported through her own research journey. Her parting advice to RPNs who are considering research is to “Take the leap. Don’t be afraid to speak up. There are people here to support you and the opportunities exist.”
For more information about the WeRPN-funded research study, Optimizing the Role of the RPN in the Operating Room: Exploring Facilitators and Barriers to Facilitate Career Opportunities, please email: Dr. Sherry Espin – sespin@torontomu.ca or research@werpn.com.
