Nursing Week 2018: St. Joe’s Hamilton implements internationally recognized Safewards program
Patients often come to hospitals at a vulnerable point, sometimes in distress. The unfamiliar setting combined with unknown faces can cause feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and even tension. Krystal Rioux, the Charge Nurse in the Psychiatric Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, works to connect with patients quickly to build a relationship of understanding.
“We know that speaking with each patient within a specific time frame after they arrive on our unit can ease tension before it builds,” Krystal explains. “Also being mindful to remove medical jargon from the conversation can relieve confusion.”
That building of respect and connection between patients and staff is part of an internationally recognized program called Safewards, implemented in St. Joe’s Mental Health and Addictions Program. It focuses on building the therapeutic relationship between staff and patients and creates a purposeful path for everyone to work together to make the environment safer and more welcoming for patients, staff and visitors.
Derek Stokke, a Registered Nurse and project lead for the program implementation, explains that Safewards is a model of care designed to promote collaboration and decrease potential confusion and misunderstandings. The model takes into consideration a variety of themes and situations that patients and staff are influenced by and, in turn, identifies key strategies to mitigate tensions that may arise.
A welcoming conversation between a nurse and patient can help to alleviate anxiety by providing information and updates of the process while in hospital, such as who the patient will speak with and how long the stay might be. Derek explains that this conversation is part of St. Joe’s culture of respect upon which Safewards is built.
Krystal notes: “It is important that our expectations place a great focus on respect – for patients, families, and our staff.”
Derek explains that the Safewards model is made up of a number of modules, all of which encourage staff and patients to work together. Patients take a very active lead role in some modules, such as one called ‘discharge messages,’ in which patients leaving the unit provide messages of support and encouragement for those being admitted.
Derek says that the many elements throughout the Safewards model are now found as common practice and conversation on the units, a sign of the collaboration and purposeful approach taken in every unit since its implementation over a year ago.
To learn more, visit stjoes.ca/safewards.