Trust launches ‘We Care’ standard on International Nurses Day

Last updated 18-May-10 13:27

Nurses across both sites of the Trust pledged to practice a new set of guidelines on 12 May 2010...International Nurses Day.

The day was marked around the world to celebrate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, and commemorates 100 years since her death. In that time, the nursing profession has evolved hugely in terms of the technology employed, but the human principles of this caring profession are as valid now as they were then.

The Trust has now launched the ‘We Care' standard. This programme reminds nurses to always be Welcoming, Empathetic and Courteous, to have an Attitude that's positive, to be Ready to help and maintain their standards of clinical Excellence.

These Trust-wide standards are being reinforced via a training video, written and performed by the nurses themselves, which was screened at both hospital sites on the day. Visitors to both hospitals were able to view displays in the front entrances that showed the work being done to maintain these standards. Younger patients at Chase Farm Hospital's Kingfisher Ward also commemorated the day by creating a display for the walls on their ward.

Terina Riches, Director of Nursing, said: "Having listened to patient feedback we know that some patients think we can do better and be more approachable. To that end the ‘We Care' standard helps to remind nursing staff of the core values of nursing and makes explicit what patients can expect."