The Department of Health is dedicated to promoting a culture within the Isle of Man which values the privacy, dignity and modesty of patients. The nursing team at Noble’s Hospital sees this as equally important in all aspects of life and when one of the Island’s High Schools invited Jayne Kerruish and Cathie Quine, two Senior Nurses from Noble’s Hospital, to help them deliver a Dignity Workshop, it was seen as a great opportunity to celebrate the dignified care that is delivered at Noble’s Hospital and to spread the dignity message to the wider community.
As part of the A level Health and Social Care module, sixth form students are required to explore the concept of dignity.
The working definition of dignity that underpins the beliefs in Noble’s Hospital was one that could be shared with the sixth form students of the Isle of Man. Part of that definition is: ‘Dignity is concerned with how people feel, think and behave in relation to the worth or value of themselves and others. To treat someone with dignity is to treat them as being of worth, in a way that is respectful of them as valued individuals.’
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK said: “The Department firmly believes in highlighting the fundamentals such as dignity. It is of paramount importance that patients feel that they are treated with privacy, dignity and respect. Our nursing staff take great pride in spreading this message across the Island.”
Workshops have now been delivered to three of the Isle of Man’s sixth form High Schools; through interactive group work and discussions, the students are stimulated to think about the meaning of dignity and to discuss their own views on the subject. The students are encouraged to consider how loss of dignity can occur in many settings including frontline healthcare and everyday life such as school life, how people’s behaviour can also have a major effect on dignity and importantly, how dignity can be promoted in the reality of day to day life.
Bev Critchlow, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Therapies, said: “It is really important that our nurses are able to reach all parts of the community and I know that this has been of great value to the schools and students. Both Cathie and Jayne have really enjoyed sharing the dignity message with such enthusiastic students. Wherever we can, we will link up in the community and work alongside others to promote these best practice values.”
The workshops have all been evaluated as of high value, with the view that they have enhanced the students’ understanding of the subject. Students are given practice-based exercises to do after the workshop and are asked to reflect on the overall message about the meaning of dignity.
Cathie Quine, Senior Nurse Patient Safety and Governance, said: “Establishing and maintaining dignity for our patients at Noble’s Hospital is an issue of paramount importance. To be given the opportunity to spread this message and to help the sixth form students explore the concept of dignity and what it means to them in their day to day life, we believe has enabled us to raise the profile of dignity in the wider community.”
Image Caption: L-R Jayne Kerruish, Acting Patient Service and Cathie Quine, Senior Nurse Patient Safety and Governance
