2. Showing that we care
East Dorset Branch
(MFD) That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how nurses can maintain and enhance the trust of the public and show they really do care
Debate report
Kathy Moore from the East Dorset Branch introduced this lively discussion about public perceptions of the nursing profession against a backdrop of intense scrutiny from politicians and the press. Kathy asked Congress to consider how, in the face of the failings in care highlighted by the recent Francis report, the RCN can enhance the trust of the public and show that nurses do care.
She hailed the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s six Cs (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment) as a strategic driver to refocus the profession and rebuild trust. A diversity of speakers took to the stage to respond, with Mike Haywood of the South West London outer branch, laying the blame for failings in care with politicians and civil servants.
Jason Warriner advised caution, however, saying that we too must take responsibility. He urged Congress to stand up together as nursing staff, regardless of sector they work in, to prevent the unacceptable from happening again.
Claire Picton of the North West London outer branch said that nurses need to be specific about their knowledge, skills and expertise and get the media onside by highlighting good practice.
Kathy closed the debate by encouraging Congress to “return to work, be role models, and stand proud”.
Background
Standards of nursing care have been at the forefront of media, political and health care sector conversations following reports of negligent and abusive practices at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust Hospital, Winterbourne View residential home and nursing homes in Northern Ireland.
The series of reports on Mid Staffordshire, culminating in the Francis Report of February 2013, highlighted tragic failings in nursing care. Among the recommendations were proposals to create specialist ‘older people’ nurses and the implementation of a duty of openness, transparency and candour for all health professionals in relation to patients and their families.
The Chief Nursing Officer in England has placed strategic focus on compassionate care using the six Cs: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. This policy driver focuses on aspects of nursing care that are instrumental to the profession, and in rebuilding trust with the public.
In Scotland the Chief Nursing Officer launched People at the Centre of Health and Care in November 2012. This is a collaborative approach across all health boards and social care partners to improve care experience. Local examples include NHS Lothian and Little Things Make a Big Difference: Valuing People.
In Northern Ireland, the RCN recently hosted a major conference, Caring about Care, which focused on caring for patients as people, moving beyond analysing the problems to demonstrating the solutions. The RCN’s Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards highlight and promote the caring role of nurses, particularly with regard to the Patient’s Choice Award.
The RCN has developed an online resource about the Principles of Nursing Practice and other topic-based resources that demonstrate the quality of nursing care. The examples gathered in areas such as dementia, care of older people and nutrition and hydration show how compassion can be embedded in practice. This can alsobe taught through simulation training, reflective practice on personal experience and as part of learning and development and clinical placements.
The report of the Willis Commission, Quality with compassion: the future of nursing education found no major shortcomings in pre-registration nursing education that could be held responsible for poor practice. It stated that nursing education had a key role to play in embedding patient safety and modelling the dignity and values of service users and carers.
Staff engagement with the design and delivery of care is positively associated with patient satisfaction and mortality, as well as reduced staff absenteeism and turnover. The RCN has worked with NHS organisations on issues of staff engagement and quality improvement using the Principles of Nursing Practice as a framework. Online learning about the Principles of Nursing Practice will be available by summer 2013.
References and further reading
Tadd W, Hillman A, Calnan S, Calnan, M., Bayer T and Read S (2011) Dignity in Practice research for England and Wales: An exploration of the care of older peoplein acute NHS Trusts: a research summary Cardiff: NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation Programme. Available at: www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/dignity/dignityinpractice/cesagen-dip-research-summary.pdf (accessed 13/03/13) (Web).
West M and Dawson J (2012) Employee engagement and NHS performance. London: The King’s Fund. Available at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/employee-engagement-nhs-performance-west-dawson-leadership-review2012-paper.pdf (accessed 13/03/13) (Web).
RCN Learning Zone and public resource: Dignity in health care (2012). Available at: www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/cpd_online_learning/dignity_in health_care (accessed 18/01/13) (Web).
