• RNAO

• Nursing Innovation Grant

Despite having a BSc, two Master’s Degrees( Nursing and Medical Education), and a PhD in Nursing ( all verified by World Education Service), I completed the post-RN program at York University to get familiarized with the Canadian Context and get my license as an RN. I took a course at St. Michener Institute to prepare for certification as a diabetes educator. I became a certified diabetes educator in 2022 (Certification Number; 0522013507). I have completed a fellowship program at UHN (a joint program with VHA) and conducted a quality improvement project. Lessons, I learned during this 6 months program helped me to write the application for this innovation program. The results of the indicated quality improvement project were published in a highly credentialed journal of wound care. (Moattari M, King EC, Ruco A. Whole versus hole: enabling community nurses to implement holistic wound care. J Wound Care. 2023 Nov 2;32(11):748-757. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2023.32.11.748. PMID: 37907360.).
I worked voluntarily for RNAO Nursing Research Interest Group as a Political Action Officer for four years. Currently, I work in a nursing clinic in the community as an RN.

The audience for a nurse-led health fair includes newcomers, refugees, their families, senior immigrants, community organizations like welcome centers, and culturally specific organizations. Newcomers face challenges such as language barriers, employment issues, cultural differences, and social isolation, which can negatively impact their health, especially with limited knowledge of accessing the healthcare system. Implementing this innovation within these organizations will enhance their understanding of the importance of introducing their target groups to health screenings and services in Canada, ultimately improving health outcomes for these communities. This nurse-led health fare will be used to identify and support the newcomers who are at risk for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, mental issues, and hyperglycemia

Health fair is a one-stop shop for a wide range of assessment/screening, educational supports, and resources to address various aspects of health. It is holistic and comprehensive and considers various health needs simultaneously as opposed to individual health services focused on specific areas of health. Face-to-face communication creates a sense of community and trust while other tools such as online resources lack personal touch. The feedback will be provided immediately with necessary information/education, resources, and a follow-up plan. It does not need referrals or appointments. Supports will be multifaceted and include health assessment and support in addition to employment or English learning support.
Addressing cultural sensitivity and language barriers through innovative health education and seminars will empower newcomers. Implementing the health fair at community centers provides an additional value of accessibility and convenience due to proximity to their home and reducing transportation barriers.

This innovation will address the gaps in the current approach to the health care system for newcomers. Many newcomers to Canada are stressed out due to the new challenges in their lives. While their health should be their priority, newcomers prioritize other needs such as learning English, getting employed, and finding a place to live over their health. Additionally, conducting a health assessment/screening, recognizing their needs and providing them with feedback, engaging them in educational activities, introducing them to the health services in Canada, and telephone follow-up to redirect them to potential resources available are examples of accessibility needs of newcomers. To my knowledge, there is limited knowledge about conducting a health fair for newcomers. The intention is to arrange a health fair including different booths for health assessment and education. Creative learning activities will be designed for their health promotion.

Nurse-led health fairs for newcomers offer valuable opportunities for nurses to enhance their practice, education, and work environment. Nurses’ engagement in these events will improve their cultural competence, holistic care, collaboration, and partnership with community organizations. It enables nurses to meet the needs of diverse populations and contribute to improved health outcomes and professional satisfaction. Team-based care including collaborative practice with other healthcare professionals will develop shared goals for community health promotion and enhance team cohesion and job satisfaction. Participation in health fairs creates a valuable opportunity for nurses to develop new skills and update their knowledge and competence on best practices in community health and cultural competence. Moreover, it improves the leadership expertise and professional growth of nurses. Nurses can also develop their knowledge of resources and gain professional recognition when they design and implement health fairs

A needs assessment will be conducted through a survey and focus group to identify the needs and health challenges of newcomers to Ontario and clarify the gaps in the healthcare system using an Ishikawa diagram. The next step would be forming a committee of potential healthcare professionals interested in helping. The mission is to set goals/objectives and choose the appropriate venue such as community centers. In the next step; the partnership stage, we will engage the stakeholders such as local healthcare providers, immigrant service organizations, cultural associations, and government agencies. This partnership may enhance access to their resources. The community network will facilitate communication between the community center’s management team and registered immigrants. Invitation letters will be sent and a brief explanation about the benefits of engagement in the health fair will be provided. Logistic management including registration, crowd management, and service coordination will enhance smooth operation on the event day. Health screening including measurement of biometric data, blood pressure, and blood glucose will be conducted in the implementation process. Workshops will be implemented to introduce them to navigating the health care system and managing chronic diseases by lifestyle and diet. A multidisciplinary team including a nurse, a dietician, a physiotherapist, and a social worker might be included to address the various needs identified. If we can secure additional funds, we may also assess their mental distress and further provide them with a mini workshop on mental health. Innovating learning strategies such as games, Jeopardy tests, and jigsaw will designed and implemented. In our resource booth flyers about health insurance, diet, and exercise will be provided and available resources in the community will be introduced. Consideration will be given to bilingual educational implementation and culturally relevant knowledge will be included. Based on the screening results Telephone follow-up will be made to support those who are at risk or sustained chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hypertension. Additional support will be provided if they require further assessment and assistance. At the end of the event, feedback will be collected to identify the areas of success and improvement. The results will be communicated to stakeholders to convince them of additional funds for sustainable implementation of nurse-led health fairs. The Idea of nurse-led health fairs has the potential to be implemented at different organizations such as universities, schools, health provider organizations, and any community organizations such as cultural associations, immigrant service providers, and religious organizations to reach a broader audience.